Strictly's Gemma Aktinson And Gorka Marquez To Dance Together For The First Time In Christmas Special

But they won't be the only couple on the Strictly dance floor this festive season.

Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez will dance together for the first time in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, it has been confirmed.

The couple met on Strictly back in 2017, and have since gone on to have a daughter, who was born earlier this year.

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Gemma and Gorka at the TV Choice Awards last year
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images

Although they appeared on the same series, Gemma was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec during her time on the show, while Gorka danced with Alexandra Burke, but they will be performing together during the upcoming Christmas special.

They won’t be the only couple on the dance floor, though, with Joe Sugg also set to be reunited with his former dance partner and girlfriend Dianne Buswell, a year after making it through to the Strictly final.

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Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images

Elsewhere, it has also been revealed that Chizzy Akudolu will be performing with Graziano De Prima, while Debbie McGee will be coupled up with Kevin Clifton, having originally danced with Giovanni Pernice during her initial run on Strictly.

Completing the line-up will be Mark Wright, who will perform with Janette Manrara, and Richard Arnold, dancing with Luba Mushtuk, the first of this year’s pros to be eliminated.

As always, the festive Strictly special will air on Christmas Day, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman taking on presenting duties, and all four judges set to return to offer their criticisms before one of the celebrities is awarded the Silver Star Trophy.

The 2018 Christmas special was won by Aston Merrygold, following his controversial early exit from the competition a year earlier.

13 times the Strictly "curse" struck
Rachel Riley(01 of13)
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The Countdown presenter announced her split from her husband just weeks after her stint on the show. In 2014, she and pro dancer Pasha Kovalev confirmed they were dating, though she remained insistent that Strictly had nothing to do with her marriage split.

Rachel and Pasha later tied the knot and now have two children together, with the TV personality recently trying to distance herself from Strictly's so-called "curse".
(credit:Joe Giddens/PA Archive)
Susanna Reid(02 of13)
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Susanna's marriage ended in February 2014, weeks after she finished as a runner-up in the competition. The Good Morning Britain anchor continued to live with her ex, Dominic Cotton, and their two sons in the months that followed. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Louise Redknapp(03 of13)
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After reaching the final of the 2016 series, Louise began to be plagued with rumours her 19-year marriage to former footballer Jamie Redknapp was on the rocks. Months later, the couple confirmed they had gone their separate ways. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Joe Calzaghe(04 of13)
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Boxer Joe and pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff initally denied romance rumours when they were paired together in 2009. However Joe split from his girlfriend just weeks later. Joe and Kristina later confirmed that they were a couple, before splitting after four years together. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Ben Cohen(05 of13)
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While on the show, Ben denied rumours that he was romancing his pro partner Kristina, and later split from his wife Abby. He and Kristina went on to confirm their relationship but remained insistent it had only begun after the breakdown of his marriage. The couple now have a child together. (credit:Steve Thorne via Getty Images)
Matt Di Angelo(06 of13)
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The EastEnders star reportedly first hooked up with Flavia Cacace during their time dancing together on the 2008 series – on which Flavia's then-boyfriend Vincent Simone was also a dancer. However, they weren't together for long... (credit:Jon Furniss via Getty Images)
Jimi Mistry(07 of13)
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Just a year after getting together with Matt, Flavia ended the relationship after finding love with her new dance partner Jimi. The couple married in 2013. (credit:Dave Hogan via Getty Images)
Natasha Kaplinsky (08 of13)
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Newsreader Natasha and Brendan were plagued by romance rumours when they were paired up for the first ever series of Strictly in 2004. Despite being insistent that they were just friends, Natasha and Brendan both split from their partners shortly after winning the series. (credit:MJ Kim via Getty Images)
Daisy Lowe(09 of13)
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Daisy split from her boyfriend Bradley "Frankie" Wade during her stint on Strictly in 2016. The relationship was still quite new and the pair struggled to find the time to see each other with her commitments to the show. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
Sunetra Sarker(10 of13)
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Sunetra split from her husband of 10 years just before filming for the 2014 series began. (credit:Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images)
Dani Harmer (11 of13)
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Tracey Beaker star Dani split from her boyfriend just days after filming began in 2012. (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
Helen George(12 of13)
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Just after Helen announced she was one of the 2015 contestants, the Call The Midwife actor revealed she was splitting from her husband of four years, Oliver Boot. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Georgia May Foote(13 of13)
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Georgia entered Strictly while in a relationship with former Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward. However, just after the series ended, the couple announced their split, and it wasn't long before she embarked on a relationship with dance partner Giovanni Pernice. They eventually broke up after less than a year together. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)