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Gorka Márquez has opened up about the "painful" health condition that led him to quit Strictly Come Dancing. The Spanish dancer, 35, announced he was leaving the BBC show after 10 years in an emotional statement on Tuesday (April 28). Now, Gorka has explained why he felt now was the right time to bid farewell to Strictly. Speaking on his podcast Lost in Translation, which he co-hosts with partner Gemma Atkinson, Gorka admitted that his "back is in bits" as he continues performing on the Strictly Come Dancing - The Professionals Tour.

When Gorka explained that his back was hurting more than his feet, Gemma, 41, said it was reassuring to hear that a professional finds it hard to dance. "I didn't say it's hard. It's not hard to dance, it's fine to dance - but it's hard to do eight hours a day dancing. There's a difference," he clarified.

Gorka continued: "Running is not bad for you, running ultra marathons is horrible for you. Running 5K for you is not bad. Dancing for fun, it's amazing for everybody. For your brain, for your body.

"Dancing from nine in the morning until 10 at night, full out, it's painful."

"Someone's gotta do it though," Gemma joked as Gorka responded: "I love it. It's bloody painful, my back is in bits. But I love it, I love to tour."

Announcing his exit from Strictly, Gorka wrote: "After last year's decision to step down as a full-time professional due to scheduling conflicts between Strictly and Dancing with the Stars Spain, I've decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.

"I will always be incredibly grateful to Strictly and the BBC for everything. Being part of the show has been so much more than just a professional opportunity - over the past 10 years, it allowed me to build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends. For that, I will forever be thankful."

He is among several other professionals who will not be returning to the 2026 series. Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova and Karen Hauer - Strictly's longest-serving female professional - were all axed from the series.

The huge shake-up comes as BBC bosses continue to search for the new presenters of Strictly, following the departures of long-running hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of last year.