Gemma Atkinson says 'gosh no' as she admits real reason children won't attend milestone celebration

Gemma Atkinson has shared the real reason her children won't be seeing her celebrate her upcoming milestone birthday. The Hits Radio host is gearing up to turn 40 this Saturday (November 16), and will be marking the occasion with a party in Manchester.

Last week, Gemma shared a countdown to her special day following her early morning gym session at her Greater Manchester home. Speaking to the camera, the former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star said: "Finished. That was a quick 28 minutes done. I've got eight more days left in my thirties and then the era of 40 begins.

"40 years around the sun. Bl**dy hell, how lucky is that? I've been here on this earth for 40 years. Here's to another 40 more please, to anything up there."

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She has since detailed some of her planned celebrations for the occasion. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News on the red carpet at the MTV EMAs 2024, which took place last Sunday (November 10) at Co-op Live, the Bury-born star said that while her fiancee Gorka Marquez will be heading over to Blackpool this weekend when week nine of Strictly's 20th-anniversary comes live from the iconic Tower Ballroom, Gemma won't be there as she has her own celebrations to attend.

"It's my 40th, so I'm having a party!" her Hits Radio co-host Mike Toolan chimed in: "There's a big party in Manchester!" Gemma then added: "It overshadows Blackpool every year and it#s the big 4-0..."

Now, Gemma and Mike have been heard discussing her birthday plans on their Hits Radio show. In a clip shared to social media, Mike was heard asking his pal if her two children - Mia, five, and one-year-old Thiago - would be at her party. "Gosh no!" she responded before explaining: "My mum's going to look after them at home and we'll do a family day after it. And I'll tell you for why, I remember my mum's 40th like it was yesterday..."

Gemma went on to recalled being in a working men's club with her whole family and witnessing a man in an all-in-one tiger suit heading up onto the stage with her mum before taking to suit off to expose a Tarzan-style loincloth. But the cheeky antics have clearly left a mark on Gemma.

WHen asked her will be her 'Tarazan-agram' at her party, she exclaimed: "Hopefully no one. They're under strict instructions all my mates not to have nothing like that. But I said to my mum, the kids can't be there because I'm going to drink on my 40th. I don't want them to see things that will scar them for life like I saw at my mum's!"