Strictly's Gorka Marquez encourages inclusivity as he eyes up new contestant

Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez would love to be partnered with EastEnders star Kitty Castledine after learning her mother, A Place In The Sun star Lucy Alexander, would love to see her on the show. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk as he rehearses for his new Speakeasy tour with Strictly co-star Karen Hauer he was told about Lucy's wish for Kitty to be the first wheelchair-using contestant in the main show.

"I could dance with her," he said without hesitation. "I have experience with [dancing with wheelchair dancers]. It's very big in Spain," he revealed. "My teacher [in Spain] used to teach it. She was like, trained to do the dances and we used to do our dance competitions. We used to have wheelchair competitions in Spain.

"In fact there is a proper championship and everything for wheelchair dancing. And it's always like a person in a wheelchair with then another person dancing together. It is quite impressive," he enthused.

Indeed Gorka revealed just the day before he had been doing a corporate show and found himself dancing with a lady in a wheelchair whom he described as "fantastic."

"This year I was judging Dancing With The Stars in Spain, and every week they used to bring a guest, which is like a celebrity who just comes in and dances one time. They brought a Paralympian - I think he's a tennis player - and he danced a pasa doble with this girl and he was incredible," Gorka recalled.

Strictly has had several contestants with a disability including amputee sprinter Jonnie Peacock and athelete Lauren Steadman.

In 2021 deaf contestant, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis won the competition dancing with Giovanni Pernice.

However they have never had a wheelchar user on the main show to date. Karen Hauer, who was also on the call, shared Gorka's enthusiasm for the idea.

"I think it'd be it'd be great. The inclusion of anyone and everyone have an opportunity to be on that dance floor with us [is fantastic] and it would it would be a beautiful thing," she agreed.

Gorka and Karen were talking as they prepared to go back on the road together with a brand new show called Speakeasy, which will see them showcase their talents using a range of inspirations including the underground prohibition-era clubs.

It is their biggest tour to date and there are already 30 dates confirmed. The pair will also make their West End debut as a duo with the date and venue due to be announced shortly.

However, before the tour kicks off they have this year's Strictly ahead of them but viewers will have to wait and see if Gorka gets his wish to dance with Kitty as the contestants won't be announced until later this year.

Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez's new tour Speakeasy begins in Dartford in February 2025 – Tickets are on sale now.