Gemma Atkinson has shared her sadness that her baby-to-be won’t get to meet her dad.
Sharing a touching quote on Instagram that read: “My dad taught me everything, except how to live without him” – Atkinson said she’d been reminiscing about the wonderful relationship she had with her grandparents.
“And then it hit me my dad won’t get to meet his grandchild,” she wrote. “Seems crazy... I blame the pregnancy hormones but today has been a bloody rollercoaster. Fits of laughter to sobbing. Thankfully, I had cookies.”
The actress, 34, who is expecting her first child with her partner Gorka Marquez, 28, has previously spoken about the death of her father, who passed away from a heart attack when she was 17.
“It hit me that life’s too short,” she said. “Dad was 52 and very healthy. Since then, I’ve wanted to take care of myself as best I can and that’s why I always drill that health is more important than what you look like.”
Many people wrote messages of support on Atkinson’s Instagram post. “Exactly the same,” wrote one mum. “I’m 38 weeks and the closer I get to the end the more I think about what my wonderful dad would have thought of our little one.”
Another mum-to-be wrote: “I am having exactly the same issue as this, but my pops is with me in spirit! As I’m sure yours is too. Keep connected with him, he is watching over you.”
Atkinson and Marquez revealed they were expecting their first child together in February 2019. The couple met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, although they were not paired as partners, but didn’t confirm their relationship until February 2018 – on Valentine’s Day.