Gemma Louise Atkinson (born 16 November 1984) is an English influencer,
actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...
, radio presenter and former
glamour model
A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows) or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography. Though mo ...
. She played
Lisa Hunter
Lisa Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Gemma Atkinson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 23 April 2001. The character is noted for her storylines including b ...
in ''
Hollyoaks
''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside''. Since 2005, episodes have been aired on ...
'' (2001–2005, 2022) and in three spin-off series, ''
Hollyoaks: After Hours'' (2004), ''
Hollyoaks: Let Loose'' (2005) and ''
Hollyoaks: In the City'' (2006), Tamzin Bayle in ''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'' (2011–2012, 2014) and
Carly Hope
''Emmerdale'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 16 October 1972. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the show in 2001, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by series producer Steve Frost.
...
in ''
Emmerdale
''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...
'' (2015–2017). She currently presents the drive time slot across the
Hits Radio Network
Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
As of October 2022, the network has a combined reach of 6.6 million weekly listeners according to RAJAR.
Overvie ...
. In November 2021, it was announced that Atkinson is set to reprise her role as Lisa Hunter in ''Hollyoaks''.
Early life and education
Atkinson was born in
Bury, Greater Manchester
Bury ( ) is a market town on the River Irwell in Greater Manchester, England. Metropolitan Borough of Bury is administered from the town, which had an estimated population of 78,723 in 2015.
The town is within the historic county boundarie ...
. Her father David was Scottish and from
Dumfries
Dumfries ( ; sco, Dumfries; from gd, Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about by road from the ...
. She took her
GCSEs
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
at
Castlebrook High School, Bury.
Career
Acting
Television
Atkinson rose to fame playing
Lisa Hunter
Lisa Hunter is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Gemma Atkinson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 23 April 2001. The character is noted for her storylines including b ...
in the
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
soap opera ''
Hollyoaks
''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside''. Since 2005, episodes have been aired on ...
''. Atkinson and
Marcus Patric
Marcus Patric (born Patrick Henry Gosling on 17 August 1979 in Gosport, Hampshire) is an English actor.
Career
Best known for the role of Ben Davies in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', he then starred in its spin-offs ''Hollyoaks: Let L ...
(who played the character
Ben Davies) subsequently appeared in a spin-off series called ''
Hollyoaks: Let Loose'' for
E4, in which their characters started a new life together in
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
. This was followed by ''
Hollyoaks: In the City'', also screened on
E4.
Other television roles included appearing as herself in the pilot for ''
Plus One'', part of the pilot series ''
Comedy Showcase
''Comedy Showcase'' is a series of one-off comedy specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier ''Comedy Playhouse''. The format was replaced in 2012 by 4Funnies.Khalsa, Balihar (8 Nov ...
'' in October 2009. In 2009, she appeared as Ria Crossley, the girlfriend of a drug dealer in ''
The Bill
''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, first broadcast on ITV from 16 August 1983 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, '' Woodentop'', broadcast in August 1983.
The programme focused on ...
''. Atkinson also appeared in the British
independent film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...
''
Boogie Woogie
Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, developed in African-American communities since 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually extended from pia ...
'', which premiered at the
Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all ti ...
in June 2009.
In May 2011, Atkinson began filming for her part in the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...
medical drama ''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
''. 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) 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.
In 2015, Atkinson began playing the role of
Carly Hope
''Emmerdale'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 16 October 1972. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the show in 2001, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by series producer Steve Frost.
...
in the
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
soap opera ''
Emmerdale
''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...
''. Then in November 2021, it was announced that Atkinson will reprise her role as Lisa Hunter in ''Hollyoaks''.
Film
Atkinson appeared in the 2010
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes.
Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
called ''
13Hrs
''13Hrs'', also known by the name ''Night Wolf'', is a 2010 British horror film directed by Jonathan Glendening. The film stars Isabella Calthorpe as the main female lead, and also features Gemma Atkinson, John Lynch, Joshua Bowman, Antony De Li ...
'' in February 2009 and a UK gangster film called ''Baseline'' in March 2009.
Atkinson played the role of Hannah in the 2011 romantic comedy film ''
How to Stop Being a Loser
''How To Stop Being a Loser'' is a 2011 British independent comedy film starring Billy Murray, Gemma Atkinson, Richard E. Grant, Simon Phillips, and Colin Salmon. The film released on 18 November 2011 in the United Kingdom. , none of the sev ...
''. The film also starred
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen; 5 May 1957) is a Swazi-English actor and presenter. He made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy ''Withnail and I'' (1987). Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marie ...
,
Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny (born 15 July 1975) is an English actress. Her notable roles include Rebecca Hopkins in ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (1999–2000), Kate Mitchell in BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' (2002–2005), Izzie Redpath in '' W ...
and
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian-American actress and model. She is best known for her glamour modeling work in ''Playboy'' magazine and for her appearances on the television series ''Baywatch'' (1992–1997).
Anders ...
.
She played the role of Harriett in the 2012 film ''
Airborne
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
''. In 2013, she starred in a remake of ''
Night of the Living Dead
''Night of the Living Dead'' is a 1968 American independent horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, with a screenplay by John Russo and Romero, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. The story follows seven peop ...
'', released in 3D. Also in 2013, she appeared in ''
Devil's Pass
''Devil's Pass'' (originally titled ''The Dyatlov Pass Incident'') is a 2013 horror film directed by Renny Harlin, written by Vikram Weet, and starring Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe, Luke Albright, Ryan Hawley, and Gemma Atkinson as Americans who inve ...
''.
Atkinson played the role of Rhea Wagner in the 2016
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
film ''
Fever
Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a body temperature, temperature above the human body temperature, normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, set point. There is not a single ...
''.
In 2017, Atkinson starred in the horror film ''Cain Hill'', alongside Emmerdale co-star
Michael Parr
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...
and ''
Kingsman 2'' actor Tony Cook.
Stage
Atkinson appeared in ''
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by List of Scottish novelists, Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and Puer aeternus, never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending ...
'' at the
Manchester Opera House
The Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England, is a 1,920-seater commercial touring theatre that plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is a Grade II listed building. The Opera House is one of the mai ...
in December 2008. She took the title role alongside
John Thomson who played
Captain Hook
Captain James Hook is a fictional character and the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play ''Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'' and its various adaptations, in which he is Peter Pan's archenemy. The character is a pirate captain ...
.
Atkinson appeared in the West End production of Tim Firth's ''
Calendar Girls
''Calendar Girls'' is a 2003 British comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi, based on a true story of a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced ...
'' at the Noël Coward Theatre, from 28 July to 17 October 2009 where she played the character of Elaine. Atkinson also went on tour with ''
Calendar Girls
''Calendar Girls'' is a 2003 British comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi, based on a true story of a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced ...
'', she played Celia aka Miss September in the production. The January to April 2010 tour of ''Calendar Girls'' also starred
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham, OBE ( ; 31 May 194819 October 2014) was an English actress, broadcaster and author. She acted in television series such as '' All Creatures Great and Small'', ''Doctor Who'', '' Second Thoughts'' and '' Faith in the Future''. Sh ...
,
Judith Barker
Judith Barker (born 22 June 1943) is an English actress, best known for her role in ''Coronation Street'' as the upwardly mobile homewrecker Janet Reid, which she played between 1969 and 1977. She has been married to Kenneth Alan Taylor since 196 ...
,
Debbie Chazen
Deborah Chazen (born 1 September 1971) is an English actress. She is best known for portraying Annie in the BBC comedy ''The Smoking Room'', Big Claire in ''Mine All Mine'', and various roles in the BBC sketch show ''Tittybangbang''. Alongside t ...
,
Letitia Dean
Letitia Jane Dean (born 14 November 1967) is an English actress. She is known for her portrayal of Sharon Watts in the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders''. An original cast member from 1985 to 1995, she reprised the role from 2001 to 2006, and again ...
and
Jan Harvey
Jan Harvey (born 1 June 1947) is a British actress. She is known for her regular television roles in ''Howards' Way'' (1985–1990), '' Bugs'' (1997–1999), and ''Family Affairs'' (2003–2005).
Career
Harvey is best known as Jan Howard in the ...
.
Atkinson played the lead female role, Belinda in
Neil LaBute
Neil N. LaBute (born March 19, 1963) is an American playwright, film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best-known for a play that he wrote and later adapted for film, ''In the Company of Men'' (1997), which won awards from the Sundance Fi ...
's play ''
This Is How It Goes
''This Is How It Goes'' is a play by Neil LaBute set in small town America, about the repercussions of an interracial love triangle. The play premiered Off-Broadway in 2005 and also was produced in the West End in 2005.
Plot and concept
High ...
'' at the
King's Head Theatre
The King's Head Theatre, founded in 1970 by Dan Crawford, is an off-West End venue in London. It is the second oldest operating pub theatre in the UK. In 2021, Mark Ravenhill became Artistic Director and the theatre focusses on producing LGBTQ ...
in Islington, London from 7 September to 3 October 2010.
Reality television
Atkinson has appeared as a contestant on reality TV series such as ''
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'', ''
Celebrity MasterChef
''MasterChef'' is a competitive cooking reality show produced by Endemol Shine UK and Banijay and broadcast in 60 countries around the world. In the UK, it is produced by the BBC. The show initially ran from 1990 to 2001 and was revived in 20 ...
'' and ''
Soapstar Superstar
''Soapstar Superstar'' is a British talent show that aired on ITV from 6 January 2006 to 13 January 2007. The show's format works in a similar format to that of ''Pop Idol'' and ''The X Factor'', in that the competition features a group of soap ...
''.
In January 2007, Atkinson reached the last four stage of ITV's ''
Soapstar Superstar
''Soapstar Superstar'' is a British talent show that aired on ITV from 6 January 2006 to 13 January 2007. The show's format works in a similar format to that of ''Pop Idol'' and ''The X Factor'', in that the competition features a group of soap ...
''.
Songs performed on ''Soapstar Superstar'':
* Day 1: "
Who Knew
"Who Knew" is a song by American singer Pink (singer), Pink from her fourth studio album, ''I'm Not Dead'' (2006). Written by Pink, Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, the song was originally released on May 8, 2006, by the LaFace Records ...
" (
Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
)
* Day 2: "
Fields of Gold
"Fields of Gold" is a song written and performed by English musician Sting. It first appeared on his fourth studio album, ''Ten Summoner's Tales'' (1993). The song was released as a single on 7 June 1993, reaching 16 on the UK Singles Chart an ...
" (
Sting
Sting may refer to:
* Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger
* Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself
Fictional characters and entities
* Sting (Middle-eart ...
)
* Day 3: "
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is a rock song written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker and first recorded by the Arrows, a British rock band, in 1975. A 1981 cover version by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, released as the first single from her album of ...
" (
Arrows/
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958) is an American singer, guitarist, record producer, and actress. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and per ...
)
* Day 4: "
Love at First Sight
Love at first sight is a personal experience as well as a common trope in literature: a person or character feels an instant, extreme, and ultimately long-lasting romantic attraction for a stranger upon first seeing that stranger. Described by p ...
" (
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...
)
* Day 5: "
You're Still the One
"You're Still the One" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was released as the third single from her third studio album ''Come On Over'' (1997). The song was written by Twain and Robert John "Mutt" Lange and produced by Lange. ...
" (
Shania Twain
Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...
)
* Day 6: "
Brass in Pocket
"Brass In Pocket (I'm Special)" is a song by English–American rock band the Pretenders, released in 1979 as the third single from their self-titled debut album. It was written by Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott, and produced by Chris ...
" (
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
);
Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
Medley: "
Just like a Pill
"Just Like a Pill" is a song by American singer Pink. It was written by Pink and Dallas Austin and produced by the latter for the singer's second studio album, ''Missundaztood''. The lyrics of the song deal with getting out of painful relationsh ...
"/"
Feel Good Time
"Feel Good Time" is a song by American singer Pink featuring William Orbit. It was released on May 27, 2003, as the lead single from the soundtrack of the 2003 film '' Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle''. It was later included on the international ...
"/"
Last to Know
"Last to Know" is a song by American recording artist Pink. It was written by her and producer Tim Armstrong for her third studio album ''Try This'' (2003). The track was released in some parts of Europe as a single in 2004, peaking just outside ...
"
In December 2006, she appeared in ''
Celebrity Weakest Link'' with
Marcus Patric
Marcus Patric (born Patrick Henry Gosling on 17 August 1979 in Gosport, Hampshire) is an English actor.
Career
Best known for the role of Ben Davies in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', he then starred in its spin-offs ''Hollyoaks: Let L ...
. In 2007, she took part in the BBC's ''
Celebrity MasterChef
''MasterChef'' is a competitive cooking reality show produced by Endemol Shine UK and Banijay and broadcast in 60 countries around the world. In the UK, it is produced by the BBC. The show initially ran from 1990 to 2001 and was revived in 20 ...
'' competition.
In November 2007, she appeared in the
seventh series of ''
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' in Australia. She finished in fifth place.
In January 2008, Atkinson appeared on ''
Celebrity Mastermind
''Celebrity Mastermind'' is a celebrity version of ''Mastermind'', a British television quiz show broadcast by BBC television. It began in 2002 as a one-off special, expanding to the current arrangement of 10 episodes, broadcast during December a ...
''. On 15/16 March 2008, Atkinson co-presented the
Play.com Live gaming expo at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
with
Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio launched in the United Kingdom in 1993. In 2008, Virgin Radio UK was sold to TIML, a subsidiary of The Times of India group, and the name was changed to Absolute Radio; the Virgin Radio name was not included in the sale.
In 2001, ...
presenter
Iain Lee
Iain Lee (born Iain Lee Rougvie; 9 June 1973) is an English broadcaster, writer, and former television presenter and stand-up comedian who hosts the phone-in talk show '' The Late Night Alternative'' on "pay to view" Patreon.
Lee's career began ...
.
Atkinson and her family appeared on ''
All Star Family Fortunes
''Family Fortunes'' is a British television game show based on the American game show ''Family Feud''. The programme ran on ITV (TV network), ITV from 6 January 1980 to 30 December 2002. A celebrity version, ''#All Star Family Fortunes, All St ...
'' on 20 September 2008, competing against
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton (born Antony Dunn; 5 August 1975) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Sean Tully in ''Coronation Street'', as well as portraying Alexander Perry in the original '' Queer as Folk'' series. In 2007, Cotton hosted ...
and his family. The Atkinsons did not win the show; however, Gemma was given £1,000 for her chosen charity.
On 12 November 2008, she appeared in
Jack Osbourne
Jack Joseph Osbourne (born 8 November 1985) is an English media personality with dual American and British citizenship. The son of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, he starred on MTV's reality series ''The Osbournes'' (2002–2005), along wi ...
's
ITV2
ITV2 is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998. For a number of years, it had the largest audience share after the five analogue terrestrial stations, a ...
show ''
Adrenaline Junkie
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...
'' filmed in South Africa. She did a
bungee jump
Bungee jumping (), also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a ...
, a
skydive
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
, a
glider
Glider may refer to:
Aircraft and transport Aircraft
* Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight
** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...
flight and swam with
great white shark
The great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias''), also known as the white shark, white pointer, or simply great white, is a species of large mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. It is nota ...
s.
In 2013, she appeared in an episode of ''
I Love My Country'', on
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...
. She took part in a celebrity edition of ''
The Chase'' in December 2015. After the team beat the chaser,
Shaun Wallace
Shaun Anthony Linford Wallace (born 2 June 1960) is an English barrister, lecturer and television personality. He is one of the six "chasers" on the ITV quiz show '' The Chase''. Wallace is a part-time lecturer and visits schools, colleges and ...
, 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
''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...
'', where she was partnered with professional dancer
Aljaž Škorjanec
Aljaž Škorjanec (born 19 February 1990) is a Slovenian dancer and choreographer who has appeared on the BBC series ''Strictly Come Dancing'' as a professional dancer. In March 2022 he announced, via his Instagram account, that he was leaving t ...
. 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
Glamour modelling
In early 2006, Atkinson underwent
breast enlargement Breast enlargement is the enlargement of the breasts. It may occur naturally as in mammoplasia or may occur artificially through active intervention. Many women regard their breasts, which are female secondary sex characteristics, as important to th ...
surgery, which took her
bra size
Bra size (also known as brassiere measurement or bust size) indicates the size characteristics of a bra. While there are a number of bra sizing systems in use around the world, the bra sizes usually consist of a number, indicating the size of the ...
to a 34E. She said in an interview with ''
Maxim
Maxim or Maksim may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Maxim'' (magazine), an international men's magazine
** ''Maxim'' (Australia), the Australian edition
** ''Maxim'' (India), the Indian edition
*Maxim Radio, ''Maxim'' magazine's radio channel on Sir ...
'' 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.
Since launching her parallel career as a glamour model, Atkinson has appeared in provocative photoshoots wearing
lingerie
Lingerie (, , ) is a category of primarily women's clothing including undergarments (mainly brassieres), sleepwear, and lightweight robes. The choice of the word is often motivated by an intention to imply that the garments are alluring, fashio ...
and
swimwear
A swimsuit is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, diving and surfing, or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing. Different types may be worn by men, wom ...
,for magazines such as ''
Arena
An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...
'', ''
FHM
''FHM'' (For Him Magazine) is a British multinational men's lifestyle magazine that was published in several countries. Its master edition contained features such as the ''FHM'' 100 Sexiest Women in the World, which has featured models, actres ...
'', ''
Loaded'', ''Maxim'', ''
Zoo
A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for Conservation biology, conservation purposes.
The term ''zoological g ...
'' 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.
Since 2006 she has appeared in
FHM's 100 Sexiest Women
''FHM'' (For Him Magazine) is a British multinational men's lifestyle magazine that was published in several countries. Its master edition contained features such as the ''FHM'' 100 Sexiest Women in the World, which has featured models, actres ...
list, debuting at number 32.
Following her appearance on the cover of ''FHM'', she moved up to 23 in 2007,
rising again to 18 in 2008
and falling to 81 in 2009. She ranked number 46 in
AskMen
AskMen is a free online men's web portal, with international versions in Australia, Canada, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is owned by Ziff Davis and operates through the IGN Entertainment unit.
History
AskMen was ...
.com's ''99 Sexiest Women of 2008''.
Promotional work
Atkinson has undertaken a wide range of promotional work; she was the female face of the 2007
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor race organised in the United Kingdom by the Royal Automobile Club. First held in 1926, the British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 and has been a round of the FIA Formula One World C ...
and worked for the Orange promotion "On Yer Bike London" prior to the
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...
.
She has also modelled for lingerie brands, including being the face of
La Senza
La Senza Corporation is a Canadian fashion retailer that sells women's lingerie and intimate apparel. The La Senza brand is currently owned by Regent which operates and owns La Senza stores in Canada and the United States and uses a franchise mo ...
and
Ultimo's D-G range. She opened Ultimo stores within
Debenhams
Debenhams plc was a British department store chain operating in the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1778 as a single store in London and grew to 178 locations across those countries, also owning the Danish ...
branches in London, Belfast and Glasgow.
Other work
Atkinson has also played
Goldie Lookin Chain
Goldie Lookin Chain are a Welsh comedy hip hop group from Newport, south-east Wales. The group produces humorous, controversial and often explicit songs that satirise hip hop, today's consumer society, the "chav" culture and life in Newpor ...
's love interest in the music video for the single "R'n'B" and featured on the cover of the CD single release.
Atkinson made her debut video game appearance in ''
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3'' (2008) in the role of Lt. Eva McKenna, which she reprised in ''
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising'' (2009). She also took part in
EA's "Be the One" event in
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemo ...
on 29 October 2008, which forms part of the
London Games Festival
The London Games Festival is an annual video gaming festival for both consumers and trade specialists held annually in April. The Festival is part of Games London an initiative to boost investment and skills in the capital, delivered by Ukie and ...
.
Also in 2013, Atkinson appeared in the video to
Rizzle Kicks
Rizzle Kicks are a British hip hop duo from Brighton, England, consisting of Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens (born 25 January 1992) and Harley "Sylvester" Alexander-Sule (born 1991). Their debut album, '' Stereo Typical'', was released in 2011. As o ...
's song "
Skip to the Good Bit
"Skip to the Good Bit" is a song by English hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks. The song was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2013 as the second single from their second studio album, ''Roaring 20s'' (2013). The song featu ...
". From 1 February 2017 to May 2018, she co-hosted the
Key 103
''For the Network, see Hits Radio. For the National DAB station, see Hits Radio UK.''
Hits Radio Manchester is an Independent local radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Greater Manchester ...
breakfast show with Mike Toolan.
She presented the Hits Radio breakfast show alongside
Gethin Jones
Gethin Clifford Jones (born 12 February 1978) is a Welsh television presenter. He was an active rugby union player while at Manchester Metropolitan University and, after graduation, he began his television career on Welsh language channel S4C a ...
and
Comedy Dave
David Lloyd Vitty (born 24 April 1974) is a radio presenter working in the UK. He worked alongside Chris Moyles at BBC Radio 1, having originally been a broadcast assistant on Moyles' early morning show. He became the show's head writer and ' ...
for the first year of
Hits Radio
Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
As of October 2022, the network has a combined reach of 6.6 million weekly listeners according to RAJAR.
Overv ...
's broadcasting,
Atkinson now presents the drive time slot across the
Hits Radio Network
Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
As of October 2022, the network has a combined reach of 6.6 million weekly listeners according to RAJAR.
Overvie ...
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 walk along the
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand ''li'' wall") is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic grou ...
in April 2008, as part of a charity event organised by
Olivia Newton-John
Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British-Australian singer, actress and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the ...
's breast cancer awareness charity. She was joined for her section of the walk by celebrities Marcus Patric and
Ant and Dec
Ant & Dec are a British television presenting duo, consisting of Anthony McPartlin (born 18 November 1975) and Declan Donnelly (born 25 September 1975), from Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Formed after their meeting as child actors on CBBC's dr ...
, among others. The walk was intended to symbolise the steps cancer patients must take on their road to recovery.
Atkinson visited the Home and Garden Show at
Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse, also known as the Roodee, is a racecourse located in Chester, England. The horse racing venue is officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the "oldest racecourse still in operation". Horse racing in Chester dates ...
on 5 June 2008 to unveil the room she designed with furniture store owner
Arighi Bianchi
Arighi Bianchi is a furniture shop in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It was founded in 1854 by Italian immigrants Antonio Arighi and Antonio Bianchi who originated from the village of Casnate on the shores of Lake Como.
The shop ...
which would be suitable for teenagers in conjunction with the
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a cancer care and support charity in the UK that exists to improve the cancer experience of young people aged 13–24. Founded in 1990, the charity's key service is providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. It ...
charity. The room was created in association with
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a cancer care and support charity in the UK that exists to improve the cancer experience of young people aged 13–24. Founded in 1990, the charity's key service is providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. It ...
(TCT), the Home and Garden Show's official charity, and the design will now be incorporated into the TCT unit at
Christie Hospital
The Christie Hospital in Manchester, England, is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. It is managed by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
History
The hospital was established by a committee under the chairmanship of Richard Ch ...
, Manchester.
On 8 January 2009, Atkinson was at
Spinningfields
Spinningfields is an area of Manchester city centre, in North West England, developed in the 2000s between Deansgate and the River Irwell by Allied London Properties. The £1.5 billion project consists of twenty new buildings, totalling approxima ...
in Manchester helping to launch the
Great Manchester Run
The Great Manchester Run (styled as the ''Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run'' for sponsorship purposes from 2017) is an annual run through Greater Manchester (namely Manchester, Trafford and Salford). It has consisted of a 10k run since it was es ...
, a run for charity that took place on 17 May 2009. At the launch, she was joined by singer
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. He began singing as a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club. He came to attention in 1999 when he sang "God ...
, and actors
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton (born Antony Dunn; 5 August 1975) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Sean Tully in ''Coronation Street'', as well as portraying Alexander Perry in the original '' Queer as Folk'' series. In 2007, Cotton hosted ...
and
Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland (; born Britt-Marie Eklund; 6 October 1942) is a Swedish actress, model and singer. She appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including roles in '' The Double Man'' (1967), ''The Night They Raided ...
. Atkinson ran to raise funds for the New Children's Hospital appeal. 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
The Great Manchester Run (styled as the ''Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run'' for sponsorship purposes from 2017) is an annual run through Greater Manchester (namely Manchester, Trafford and Salford). It has consisted of a 10k run since it was es ...
, she was competing on behalf of Manchester's
Christie Hospital
The Christie Hospital in Manchester, England, is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. It is managed by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
History
The hospital was established by a committee under the chairmanship of Richard Ch ...
. 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
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
in January 2016. She ran the
Great Manchester Run
The Great Manchester Run (styled as the ''Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run'' for sponsorship purposes from 2017) is an annual run through Greater Manchester (namely Manchester, Trafford and Salford). It has consisted of a 10k run since it was es ...
for the charity in May 2016.
In late 2016, Atkinson supported the #gotyourback message, a campaign to help military veterans seek help if they need it.
Personal life
Atkinson is engaged to ''
Strictly Come Dancing
''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...
'' professional dancer
Gorka Márquez
Gorka Márquez (; born 4 September 1990) is a Spanish professional dancer, best known for appearing on the British dance show ''Strictly Come Dancing''.
Early life
Márquez began dancing at the age of 12, and in 2010 he represented Spain at the ...
. On 1 February 2019, she announced on
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
that they were expecting a baby. Atkinson gave birth to a baby girl in July 2019.
Filmography
See also
*
List of glamour models
This is a list of notable glamour models.
A
*Lene Alexandra
*Alessandra Ambrosio
*Pamela Anderson
*Sophie Anderton
*Sora Aoi
*Danni Ashe
* Gianne Albertoni
*Gemma Atkinson
*Coco Austin
B
* Alley Baggett
* Tanya Bardsley
*Ana Beatriz Barros
*Ke ...
References
External links
*
*
Wes & Gemma on Hits Radio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Gemma
1984 births
Living people
English television actresses
English video game actresses
English female models
21st-century English actresses
Glamour models
English soap opera actresses
People from Bury, Greater Manchester
Actresses from Greater Manchester
English film actresses
English stage actresses
English radio people
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) participants