BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Dr Punam Krishan fights tears as Gemma Atkinson supports first dance

Dr Punam Krishan was seen trying not to cry as she reflected on her first live performance on Strictly Come Dancing. The practising GP is among the 15 celebrities to have signed up for the BBC One dance contest this year.

The hit dance show returned earlier this month with the pre-recorded launch show in which Dr Punam, who is also the resident GP on BBC's Morning Live, was seen being paired with Spanish dancer Gorka Marquez.

It was then on Saturday night (September 21) that the competition really got underway as all 15 of the new Strictly couples performed together for the first time followed by the judges' comments and scores.

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That meant that it was time for Dr Punam and Gorka to show off their first routine as a Strictly couple and the pair were given 19 points by the judges after they danced the cha cha to Love At First Sight by Australian pop star Kylie Minogue while sporting vibrant red outfits.

Following their first performance, Gorka has already been quick to praise his new dance partner. Alongside a picture of them both in action in the ballroom, the 34-year-old wrote on his Instagram Story: "Our first dance on the @bbcstrictly floor and I couldn't be more proud of @drpunamkrishan.

"Totally out of her comfort zone doing something that is miles away [from] what her job is and went out and smashed it." He added: "Can't wait to get started with our second dance."

Meanwhile, Dr Punam took to social media with media to share a video in which she spoke directly to her fans and followers while emotionally reflecting on her first live dancing experience on Strictly 2024.

In videos posted to her Instagram Story as she headed in a car to the train station to get back to Glasgow to her family before another week of training, Dr Punam said: "Oh my gosh, where do I even begin it? There's so much to say about last night but right now I'm just on my way to get the first train that I could get to get back home because I'm dying to see the hubby and kids who are just so proud."

She continued: "But what a night it was, I could cry but I won't. It was just so overwhelmingly incredible but just mad is the only way to describe it. People just tend to see, of course, what is on the telly. They don' don't quite see all the background to the 'journey' to get there.

"I overcame a lot this week and I don't think I've quite processed it, hence the emotions. It's not easy juggling the GP work, being there as best I could with the kids then learning something so different and new, then the nerves, excitement and thrill of performing that, having never performed anything in my life, it was just so much to take in but just incredible."

Dr Punam went on to say she was "so happy" as she thanked those who had sent "so many beautiful messages of love and support". She added: "And that makes me emotional too!"

Meanwhile, Gorka's fiancee Gemma Atkinson, who knows what it's like to be a contestant after making it to the Strictly final in 2017, was also spotted showing her support for her partner and Dr Punam. Commenting on Strictly's clip of their first routine, the Hits Radio host said: "And only week 1! [shocked face emoji]. Bravo Team."