In May 2011, Atkinson began filming for her part in the BBC medical drama Casualty. She played the part of Tamzin, a paramedic; appearing onscreen from 13 August 2011, but had confirmed via Twitter that she would only appear for ten weeks (10 episodes).[7] She left the show on 1 October 2011, after her sixth appearance but later returned to the show as Tamzin for the last time in 2014.[8][9]
In 2015, Atkinson began playing the role of Carly Hope in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.[10] Then in November 2021, it was announced that Atkinson will reprise her role as Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks.[11]
Atkinson appeared in the West End production of Tim Firth's Calendar Girls at the Noël Coward Theatre, from 28 July to 17 October 2009 where she played the character of Elaine.[15] Atkinson also went on tour with Calendar Girls, she played Celia aka Miss September in the production. The January to April 2010 tour of Calendar Girls also starred Lynda Bellingham, Judith Barker, Debbie Chazen, Letitia Dean and Jan Harvey.
Atkinson and her family appeared on All Star Family Fortunes on 20 September 2008, competing against Antony Cotton and his family. The Atkinsons did not win the show; however, Gemma was given £1,000 for her chosen charity.
In 2013, she appeared in an episode of I Love My Country, on BBC One. She took part in a celebrity edition of The Chase in December 2015. After the team beat the chaser, Shaun Wallace, Atkinson took home £25,125 for her chosen charity, Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.
In Autumn 2017 Atkinson competed in the fifteenth series of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing,[17] where she was partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. The couple reached the final of the competition on 16 December, where they finished either second, third or fourth (results not disclosed via the BBC), losing out to Joe McFadden.[18]
Glamour modelling
In early 2006, Atkinson underwent breast enlargement surgery, which took her bra size to a 34E.[19] She said in an interview with Maxim magazine that she lost weight due to a fitness regimen and her breasts had declined in size and that the surgery had restored their original size and shape.[20]
Since launching her parallel career as a glamour model, Atkinson has appeared in provocative photoshoots wearing lingerie and swimwear,for magazines such as Arena, FHM, Loaded, Maxim, Zoo and Nuts. In October 2006, she appeared in three of these publications in a single month, becoming one of the most prolific celebrity glamour models in the UK. She has also released calendars yearly since 2006, with those for 2008 and 2009 shot in Thailand.[21]
Since 2006 she has appeared in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women list, debuting at number 32.[22] Following her appearance on the cover of FHM, she moved up to 23 in 2007,[22] rising again to 18 in 2008[22] and falling to 81 in 2009.[23] She ranked number 46 in AskMen.com's 99 Sexiest Women of 2008.[24]
Promotional work
Atkinson has undertaken a wide range of promotional work; she was the female face of the 2007 British Grand Prix[25] and worked for the Orange promotion "On Yer Bike London" prior to the Tour de France.[26]
She has also modelled for lingerie brands, including being the face of La Senza[27] and Ultimo's D-G range.[28] She opened Ultimo stores within Debenhams branches in London,[29] Belfast and Glasgow.
Other work
Atkinson has also played Goldie Lookin Chain's love interest in the music video for the single "R'n'B" and featured on the cover of the CD single release.[30]
Also in 2013, Atkinson appeared in the video to Rizzle Kicks's song "Skip to the Good Bit". From 1 February 2017 to May 2018, she co-hosted the Key 103 breakfast show with Mike Toolan.[33]
Atkinson now presents the drive time slot across the Hits Radio Network with Mike Toolan.
Charity work
In September 2007, Atkinson did a 5 kilometre (3 miles, 190 yards) charity run for breast cancer awareness. She embarked upon a 228 kilometres (142 mi) walk along the Great Wall of China in April 2008, as part of a charity event organised by Olivia Newton-John's breast cancer awareness charity. She was joined for her section of the walk by celebrities Marcus Patric and Ant and Dec, among others. The walk was intended to symbolise the steps cancer patients must take on their road to recovery.[35]
Atkinson visited the Home and Garden Show at Chester Racecourse on 5 June 2008 to unveil the room she designed with furniture store owner Arighi Bianchi which would be suitable for teenagers in conjunction with the Teenage Cancer Trust charity. The room was created in association with Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), the Home and Garden Show's official charity.
On 8 January 2009, Atkinson was at Spinningfields in Manchester helping to launch the Great Manchester Run, a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) run for charity that took place on 17 May 2009. At the launch, she was joined by singer Russell Watson, and actors Antony Cotton and Britt Ekland. Atkinson ran to raise funds for the New Children's Hospital appeal.[36] She finished the 10 km run on 17 May 2009 with a time of 1 hour 6 minutes.
In May 2010, Atkinson again took part in the Great Manchester Run, she was competing on behalf of Manchester's Christie Hospital. She hoped to beat her time from the previous year's run of 1 hour 6 minutes. She ran a time of 57 minutes, beating her 2009 time by 9 minutes.
Atkinson became the vice-patron of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Lancashire in January 2016. She ran the Great Manchester Run for the charity in May 2016.[37]
In late 2016, Atkinson supported the #gotyourback message, a campaign to help military veterans seek help if they need it.[38]
Personal life
Atkinson dated Cristiano Ronaldo during his first stint at Manchester United in 2007 for four months before breaking up in October that year.[39][40] Atkinson is engaged to Spanish Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Márquez. On 1 February 2019, she announced on Instagram that they were expecting a baby.[41] Atkinson gave birth to a baby girl, Mia on 4 July 2019.[42] On 21 January 2023, Atkinson announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with her second child.[43] On 19 July 2023, Atkinson announced she had given birth to her second child, a boy, Thiago.[44]
