Gemma Atkinson 'spoilt' as childhood crush tells her she 'looks 22' over personal update

Gemma Atkinson has told fans she has been 'spoilt' by her Hits Radio co-stars as they provided her with cards, gifts - and even a message from her childhood crush - to mark a milestone occasion.

The presenter 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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Ahead of the big day, Gemma's Hits Radio co-hosts threw her a little bash in the studio with balloons, party hats and a delcious-looking cake. Sharing pictures on Instagram, the station said: "(Almost) 40 and fabulous."

Gemma went on to reshare the post and said in view of her millions of Instagram followers: "Spoilt rotten for early birthday celebrations with my @hitsradiouk team!" And she also got a number of gifts on-air too as they pulled together a very special show for her.

Well-wishers including her mum, partner Gorka Marquez and daughter Mia, while fellow Hits Radio presenter Fleur East, Strictly chums Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec, Kate Lawler, Helen Skelton, Alison Hammond, Gethin Jones and Simon Mayo all dialled in to the show but it was TV legend Lorraine Kelly and Take That’s Gary Barlow that really got the birthday girl excited.

Lorraine said in her message: "Hi Gemma, it's Lorraine Kelly here and I just wanted to say a very, very happy 40th birthday. I thought you were about 22!" to which Mike burst out laughing. It was then Gary's turn and Gemma couldn't believe what she was hearing as he said: "Hello there, Mr B here, dialing in from Jakarta, Indonesia.

"We're about to go on stage but I just wanted to say to the beautiful Gemma, Happy 40th Birthday! I can't beleive you're 40. You do not look 40, you look 22 at least! Have a lovely day." After screeching through the clip, the birthday girl said: "Good gracious! It's a shame he's in Jakarta, I would have invited him to my party."

It comes after Gemma 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 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..."