Gemma Atkinson banned from gym

Gemma Atkinson has been "banned" from the gym by Aljaz Skorjanec.

The former \'Emmerdale\' actress usually spends a lot of time working out but since she began dance training for \'Strictly Come Dancing\', her professional partner has told her to stop because she is too "strong".

Aljaz said: "She was [into fitness] but I have banned her from going to the gym.

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"She is so strong. She had enough strength and all the ballroom dances need to look soft and pretty."

The 27-year-old dancer admitted the show is very much out of his partner\'s comfort zone, but he\'s proud she\'s embraced all aspects of the show.

He said: "She has always been a lady from day one! At first she was really sceptical about wearing a long dress but the first time she put one on you could see the happiness in her face. She told me she never used to even own a dress. We call her queen of the north. She\'s a lovely northern lass who can do ballroom."

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And Aljaz thinks Gemma has made a huge amount of progress since they started training.

He said: "She was incredibly nervous. I love that Gemma has been improving every single week. She\'s had injuries and things not going our way but she\'s kept quiet and carried on. She is a real trooper and has gone through all of this with a smile on her face. Gemma loves ballroom dancing now. It took me nine weeks to make it happen."

Though the pair are training for "six or seven hours" a day, they always enjoy their tough sessions.

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Aljaz told OK! magazine: "She gets up really early for her breakfast radio show but works really hard.

"She has no dance training so what she ends up producing on a Saturday is incredible. We are like two best mates - there hasn\'t been a dull moment."