Gemma Atkinson has been "banned" from the gym by Aljaz Skorjanec.
The former ‘Emmerdale’ actress usually spends a lot of time working out but since she began dance training for ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, her professional partner has told her to stop because she is too "strong".
Aljaz said: "She was [into fitness] but I have banned her from going to the gym.
"She is so strong. She had enough strength and all the ballroom dances need to look soft and pretty."
The 27-year-old dancer admitted the show is very much out of his partner’s comfort zone, but he’s proud she’s embraced all aspects of the show.
He said: "She has always been a lady from day one! At first she was really sceptical about wearing a long dress but the first time she put one on you could see the happiness in her face. She told me she never used to even own a dress. We call her queen of the north. She’s a lovely northern lass who can do ballroom."
And Aljaz thinks Gemma has made a huge amount of progress since they started training.
He said: "She was incredibly nervous. I love that Gemma has been improving every single week. She’s had injuries and things not going our way but she’s kept quiet and carried on. She is a real trooper and has gone through all of this with a smile on her face. Gemma loves ballroom dancing now. It took me nine weeks to make it happen."
Though the pair are training for "six or seven hours" a day, they always enjoy their tough sessions.
Aljaz told OK! magazine: "She gets up really early for her breakfast radio show but works really hard.
"She has no dance training so what she ends up producing on a Saturday is incredible. We are like two best mates – there hasn’t been a dull moment."
Gemma Atkinson banned from gym
