Gemma Atkinson reveals ways she believes her late dad contacts her

Gemma Atkinson has opened up about losing her late father David Atkinson more than two decades ago, with her having reflected on the anniversary of his death this week.

The actor, 39, has previously shared that she lost her dad “very suddenly” and “unexpectedly” due to a heart attack more than two decades ago. Gemma was a teenager at the time and David is understood to have passed away aged 52.

She reflected on his death once again on Saturday for the anniversary. Gemma took to Instagram to share a video of herself speaking about her loss and told her followers that she would be visiting the cemetery for the occasion.

Gemma commented: “It’s 23 years today since my dad died. 23 years without seeing my dad. It’s crazy when you think I’ve had more time without him than with him for a long time now.” She continued in the video: “And I’ve got friends now who are at the age he was when he died. And it really wasn’t old. When you look at it now, it was not old at all.”

The Hits Radio host went on to share that she planned to visit the cemetery with the youngest of her two children. Gemma and her fiancé Gorka Márquez, 33, are parents to Mia, four, and nine-month-old Thiago together. She said: “So yeah, [will] have a little a trip to the cemetery later. Take Thiago up. Mia [is busy]. But yeah, 23 years – crickey!”

The former Strictly Come Dancing finalist concluded by suggesting that her late father was “sending” a robin to her garden. The remark came after Gemma had shared footage earlier on Saturday of her garden, teasing that she was being visited by a squirrel, a robin and a blackbird. She said: “Cheers dad, wherever you are. He’s probably the one sending that robin everyday, bless him.”

Gemma later posted a throwback photo of herself alongside her late father. She also shared a response that she had receive from one of her followers on the platform this weekend. It read: “Does it get easier? My dad died last year and the pain is just horrendeous. I have days where I’m ok and then some days it sweeps over me and taints everything I do.”

Addressing the reaction, Gemma wrote: “I’m sorry for your loss. I’ve [had] lots of these [messages]. It does get easier for sure. I mean, life is never the same but you learn to adjust to your new normal.

She further commented in the post: “There’s not a day where my dad doesn’t pop into my head randomly (I believe that’s his way of communicating) and I still occasionally get angry that he didn’t get to meet Mia & Tio & Gorka.

“It’s something every single one of us who’s been lucky enough to have parents has to go through. We all have to lose them at some point, some sooner than others. Me and my sister always say the one good thing about dad passing when he did was that we never saw him old, or poorly, or bed-bound etc.”

“The last time I saw him he was sat up laughing with me sharing a mars bar and making plans for the weekend. That’s my last memory of him. I think if you try and find something positive to always go to in those difficult times it makes them easier. Time is a great healer,” she concluded.