'WE'RE MAKING THE MOST OF THE LOVELY BABY BUBBLE'

GEMMA ATKINSON AND GORKA MÁRQUEZ EXCLUSIVELY INVITE OK! TO MEET THEIR SON THIAGO AND TALK ABOUT BEING A FAMILY OF FOUR

- JEN PHARO

Baby Thiago Thomas Márquez is just five days old when parents Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Márquez introduce us to him, as he snoozes angelically, swaddled in his soft white blanket. He's so new to the world, that it's not until after our interview that Gemma and Gorka agree on a name, deciding to get to know him a little first.

"They change so much each day," says Gemma, stroking her newborn's face as Gorka carries him. "I think that's why they give you six weeks before you have to register their name. Just to see."

When the couple's daughter was born in July 2019, Gemma and Gorka had their hearts set on a different name for her.

"Mia was Bella for a week, but we changed it," shares Gemma. It's lovely to see how she visibly lightens up at the mention of her "mother hen" daughter, who tried to persuade her parents to name her new baby brother Barbie, Harold or Ralph.

The bundle of joy has completed the Aktinson-Márquez household and for Thiago's first week, they are enjoying living in their baby bubble. Gorka wants to spend as much time as possible with his son at their Manchester home before Strictly Come Dancing filming duties call him away in the next couple of days.

"It's wonderful," smiles Gemma, 38, who looks radiant despite having barely any sleep since baby number two's arrival. "It feels like we've always been a family of four, it's bizarre how he's slotted right in.

"We're obviously exhausted but it's that fun exhaustion whereby it doesn't matter if you've not had a wash and your hair's a mess, and we're in our PJs," smiles Gemma. "It's just nice. So we're making the most of that lovely little bubble really. It's been a lot more chilled this time. Your second one isn't easier, but it's more manageable because there are no firsts."