Gorka Márquez has hilariously revealed his baby daughter Mia wants his unborn baby to be named Barbie with girlfriend Gemma Atkinson.
The Strictly professional, 32, announced on Saturday that he is expecting his second child – a baby boy – with his fiancee, the actress, 38, who is due later this year.
And while appearing on BBC Morning Live on Monday, he explained how the three-year-old was “so excited” to welcome a brother to the family.
‘She wants to call him Barbie!’ Strictly Gorka Márquez has revealed the hilarious name that three-year-old daughter Mia is suggesting for his baby boy with pregnant fiancée Gemma Atkinson
He told Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh, his former co-star on the ballroom dancing show, “Yes very good news we are expecting baby number two so excited.”
When asked about Mia’s reaction, he replied: “She’s so excited. We told her she just keeps kissing her stomach and saying hello and goodnight and everything, she’s super cute.”
Kym chimed in, “I like that she wants to call him Barbie,” to which Gorka said, “I know, ‘Can I call him Barbie? “Or Ralph, she likes Ralph too. IM not sure.”
The soap star and the professional dancer took to Instagram on Saturday to announce that they are expecting a baby boy, who is due later this year.
Family: The Strictly professional, 32, announced on Saturday he is expecting his second child – a baby boy – with his actress fiancee, 38, who is due later this year (pictured with Mia)
She shared a series of stunning black and white photographs showing off her blossoming baby bump as she confirmed her happy news.
The Emmerdale star cut a casual figure in sweatpants and a black vest top while lovingly cradling her growing baby bump.
Suddenly Gorka joined her, flashing a big smile, while in another picture her daughter Mia lay sweetly on her stomach.
In a caption, Gemma said her daughter Mia, three, was “thrilled” by the news and joked that her son is called “Barbie” when it’s up to her daughter.
Cute: And while appearing on BBC Morning Live on Monday, he explained how the three-year-old is “so excited” to welcome a brother to the family
Excited: He told Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh, his former co-star on the ballroom dancing show: “Yes very good news we are expecting baby number two so very excited.”
She wrote: “It’s impossible to hide my stomach any longer. I’ve officially “popped”. Our little boy will join our family later this year.
“We feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to be on this journey again. Mia is absolutely thrilled!
“Although we may have to do some naming negotiations as so far she’s adamant his name will be Barbie.”
Gemma and professional dancer Gorka got engaged in February 2021, four years after they met on Strictly Come Dancing. They welcomed their first child Mia on July 4, 2019.
congratulations! Gemma announced last week that she is pregnant with her second child with Gorka
Sweet: In a caption, Gemma said her daughter Mia, three, was “thrilled” by the news and joked that her son is called “Barbie” when it’s up to her daughter
Last year, Gemma revealed she has postponed her wedding to Gorka due to her busy schedules – after saying she would rather have another baby than plan a lavish wedding.
Back in May, she opened up about how Gorka has been busy with the Strictly tour schedule for the rest of the year, meaning they won’t be able to accommodate him this year.
She told New Magazine: “Gorka is literally on tour this year. We only have four days off together.
“He’s got the two Strictly tours back-to-back, and then he’s going to continue with Strictly in the fall. We don’t even have a minute to sit down and make plans!’
Adorable: She shared a series of stunning black and white photographs showing off her blossoming baby bump as she confirmed her happy news
However, when they finally make it down the aisle, Gemma said they don’t intend to go all out.
“We said we’d rather try for another baby than have a big, fancy wedding,” she said during a recent appearance on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret To podcast.
“There are people who spend £50,000 on a wedding and you’re like, ‘Oh my God’.
“Twice we considered going to the registry office and just doing it and then having a big party.”
Relationship: They met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 when Gemma was working with Aljaž Škorjanec. Pictured: Gemma and Gorka at the 2019 Christmas Special
She added on the podcast that they would love to have a small wedding abroad but admitted she has made “zero planning” for it so far because of Covid.
Gemma also revealed that she hasn’t chosen her bridesmaids or wedding dress yet.
The mother-of-one, who is currently a presenter at Hits Radio, said she and Gorka have almost gone to the registry office twice now and “just did it” – but added that her family would be upset if they did.
Family: Gemma and professional dancer Gorka got engaged in February 2021 and welcomed their first child Mia on July 4, 2019
Elsewhere last year, Gemma also opened up about her experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder following the birth of her daughter Mia.
In a film for Steph’s Packed Lunches on Channel 4, the star reflected on her experience of giving birth and admitted she blamed herself for “failing”.
Gemma needed an emergency c-section when Mia’s heart rate suddenly dropped during labour. She suffered a hemorrhage after giving birth and lost nearly a liter of blood.
Plans: Last year, Gemma revealed she had postponed her wedding to Gorka (pictured in March 2019) due to her busy schedules – after saying she’d rather try for another baby
Describing Mia as “the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Gemma took to social media after giving birth to share her experiences.
Speaking on Channel 4, she said: “All these things were going through my head, what did I do that caused all of this? I kept telling myself for weeks that I failed at the birth.
“I had horrible dreams that someone was going to take Mia away from me. I remember my mother running into my bedroom and I was screaming and sweating.
Wedding bells: Gemma (pictured with Gorka in 2019) said they would love to have a small wedding abroad but admitted she has made “zero planning” for it so far because of Covid
Gemma said it in the words of her mum, who eventually changed her mind, adding: “We went out with the stroller and one lady said: ‘Oh I believe it [the birth] wasn’t a success, you know what happened?”
‘My mum got on the line and said, ‘It’s been a huge hit, Mia is here, Gemma is here, total success.’ Something clicked inside me, my body made me proud because it recovered and got me through it.’
Gemma also spoke about her plans to have another child, saying: “I’m at the stage where I want a sister or a brother for Mia. In the first few months of Mia’s life, I always said to my partner Gorka, I won’t go through that again. I’ve gotten away with it now and I feel like I could.’
Open: Last year, Gemma (pictured with Gorka in September 2019) also opened up about her experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder following the birth of her daughter Mia