Gemma Atkinson tested positive for Covid antibodies but thought it was flu

Strictly star Gemma Atkinson has revealed she tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies.

She had a test in March after she and five others went to the theatre over a weekend, and fell ill on the following Wednesday.

And while Gemma exhibited coronavirus symptoms like loss of taste and smell, she was convinced it was “just a bit of flu” until she had the test.

Chatting to Steph McGovern on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, Gemma told: “I had the antibodies test back in March.

“Six of us went to the theatre on a Sunday, all became ill on the Wednesday and we all got different symptoms.

“The only thing we had in common was we all lost our sense of smell and taste.

“My stepdad, Peter, was really poorly, he was in bed for two weeks. We had the antibodies test then and it came back that we had the antibodies… I don’t know how long you have them for.

“We did it because until we lost our taste and smell, I thought it was just a bit of flu.”

She added that the Strictly dancers – including her boyfriend Gorka Márquez – are being tested “all the time.”

“They’re doing the bubbling and then he gets two weeks off but again he has to isolate,” Gemma told.

“Then they’re doing more tests before they go back.”

Gemma and Gorka met during 2017’s Strictly and hit it off, and now share one-year-old daughter Mia.

Gemma was recently targeted by mum-shaming trolls who attacked her after sharing a cute video of herself working out as Mia watched.

When one told her to “take a leaf out of Stacey Solomon’s book”, it was Stacey herself who jumped to her defence.

Sharing a screengrab of one of the messages, protective friend Stacey paid: “Marie, Marie, Marie where do I start?

“It might shock you to know that sometimes just sometimes I might put myself first.

“Some days I chose Peaky Blinders over Pepper Pig. Crisp over carrots, and sometimes I just lock myself in the toilet and pretend I am doing the longest poo in the world to get some me time.

“Gemma you are smashing it. Keep being the amazing mum to the woman you are raising.”