Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez seen for the first time since being beaten up in Blackpool by gang of youths
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez has been seen for the first time since a gang of youths attacked him in Blackpool on Saturday night.
The Spanish professional dancer ended up losing two teeth in the fracas, which police say was random and unprovoked.
Gorka, 26, was ambushed as he walked to a nightclub in Blackpool with show colleagues Aljaz Skorjanec and Neil Jones.
Hours earlier he had partnered fellow pro Janette Manrara, 33, in a routine to Rick Astley’s seminal 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up.
Today he was seen looking downcast - and with his mouth tightly shut - as he left the stars' hotel.
It is expected that he will have dental surgery on his broken teeth today.
Wearing a woolly hat and chequered scarf, Gorka looked hollow eyed as he stood near a group of friends in the notoriously rough seaside town.
It was a far cry from how fans normally see him - sequins, bronzer and more sequins - every Saturday on Strictly Come Dancing.
A friend told The Sun: “Gorka and a few of the other dancers were heading to a nightclub to let their hair down after another brilliant show.
“All of a sudden this group of local louts came out of nowhere.
“One of them punched Gorka in the face and broke two of his teeth.”
The pal said neither Gorka nor his colleagues had made any contact with the gang before the attack.
They said: “Gorka was sober, he doesn’t drink.
“This was an entirely random and shocking attack on a group of friends simply trying to enjoy a night out.
“He wasn’t angry, he was just more shaken by the event.
“They went straight back to the hotel to see if he needed urgent medical care before going back to London for dental surgery.”
Gorka recently got engaged to Scottish singer Lauren Sheridan, 26, who joined him in Blackpool as part of the Strictly backroom team.
Before Saturday’s show he posted a picture of them on Instagram with the caption: “Blackpool...!!! first time and sharing it with @laurensheridan26 @bbcstrictly.’’
Last night Lauren’s father Gerald, who also attended the show, seemed unaware of the attack.
He said: “We’ve only just got back from Blackpool ourselves and don’t really know anything.”
Dancers Aljaz and Neil, who were out with Gorka, are thought to have avoided the altercation, which was not reported to police.
A friend added: “Gorka’s an incredibly passive guy, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
"He’s so upbeat that he won’t let an unprovoked attack from a yob ruin his first Strictly in Blackpool.”
Gorka is expected to return to training with 2014 runner-up Frankie Bridge, 27, for the show’s Christmas special.
Gorka was initially paired with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, but the pair were eliminated in the show's third week.
However the Spanish dancer was kept on Strictly to dance with singer Anastacia when her partner Brendan Cole fell ill in week five.
None of this year’s celebrity contestants were present when the attack took place.
This year’s cast, which includes politician Ed Balls, 49, Judge Rinder, 38, and singer Louise Redknapp, 42, all chose to stay in their hotel after the competition finished.
Strictly bosses confirmed Gorka will be returning next weekend.
A show spokesman said: “Gorka was sadly the victim of an unprovoked incident in Blackpool on Saturday night but he will be back in training this week and is looking forward to the group routine next weekend.”
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