Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez will dance together for the first time in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, it has been confirmed.

The couple met on Strictly back in 2017, and have since gone on to have a daughter, who was born earlier this year.

Although they appeared on the same series, Gemma was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec during her time on the show, while Gorka danced with Alexandra Burke, but they will be performing together during the upcoming Christmas special.

They won’t be the only couple on the dance floor, though, with Joe Sugg also set to be reunited with his former dance partner and girlfriend Dianne Buswell, a year after making it through to the Strictly final.

Elsewhere, it has also been revealed that Chizzy Akudolu will be performing with Graziano De Prima, while Debbie McGee will be coupled up with Kevin Clifton, having originally danced with Giovanni Pernice during her initial run on Strictly.

Completing the line-up will be Mark Wright, who will perform with Janette Manrara, and Richard Arnold, dancing with Luba Mushtuk, the first of this year’s pros to be eliminated.

As always, the festive Strictly special will air on Christmas Day, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman taking on presenting duties, and all four judges set to return to offer their criticisms before one of the celebrities is awarded the Silver Star Trophy.

The 2018 Christmas special was won by Aston Merrygold, following his controversial early exit from the competition a year earlier.