Gorka Marquez fans have identified the reason why the Strictly Come Dancing pro isn't taking part in the show's live tour - he's getting ready for another show with co-star Karen Hauer.
Disappointed Strictly fans were left scratching their heads in December, when the line-up for the arena tour was confirmed in full and Gorka's name wasn't on it. While his 2022 celeb partner Helen Skelton will be involved, in a new partnership alongside Kai Widdrington, Gorka will have no involvement whatsoever.
Gorka's absence from the Strictly tour left many fans gutted, particularly those who'd already got tickets in the hope of seeing him and Helen together, but the good news for any fans of the Spanish dancer is that he will tour the country in another show, as he and fellow Strictly pro Karen Hauer, who partnered Jayde Adams this series, take the stage with Firedance.
READ MORE: Helen Skelton back for Strictly tour as Gorka absence upsets fans
While Gorka and Karen's tour kicks off a month later than the Strictly tour, the schedule is tight, with their first performance coming on February 23, just days after the Strictly tour ends, meaning neither dancer could do both due to rehearsal schedules.
As she got set to start Strictly tour rehearsals, Helen made sure to pay tribute to Gorka on Instagram. Sharing a montage of the Strictly final on Instagram, Helen said one of her main reasons for doing so was because 'there’s about to be a whole lot of strictly tour spam that doesn’t involve @gorka_marquez and I need to mark this chapter with an acknowledgement and appreciation of my wingman."
And then Helen and Gorka reunited on Monday, before going their separate ways, with ex Blue Peter star Helen joking that she was 'stalking' the pro, who has told fans not to believe rumours about him quitting Strictly.
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