STRICTLY Come Dancing pro Gorka Marquez was battered by a gang of youths hours after he took part in Saturday’s live show.
The Spanish dancer had two teeth smashed in the street attack and is due to have dental surgery today.
Gorka, 26, was ambushed as he walked to a nightclub in Blackpool with show colleagues Aljaz Skorjanec and Neil Jones.
Hours earlier he had partnered fellow pro Janette Manrara, 33, in a routine to Rick Astley’s seminal 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up.
It was filmed in advance for last night’s results show.
He also appeared in the group routine on Saturday.
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Gorka was ambushed in the early hours as he walked to Flamingo nightclub with Strictly dancers Aljaz Skorjanec, 26, and Neil Jones, 33.
A friend told The Sun: “Gorka and a few of the other dancers were heading to a nightclub to let their hair down after another brilliant show.
“All of a sudden this group of local louts came out of nowhere.
“One of them punched Gorka in the face and broke two of his teeth.”
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The pal said neither Gorka nor his colleagues had made any contact with the gang before the attack.
They said: “Gorka was sober, he doesn’t drink.
“This was an entirely random and shocking attack on a group of friends simply trying to enjoy a night out.
“He wasn’t angry, he was just more shaken by the event.
“They went straight back to the hotel to see if he needed urgent medical care before going back to London for dental surgery.”
Gorka and his dance partner, EastEnders star Tameka Empson, 39, were eliminated from this year’s Strictly in week three.
But he has continued to appear in the large routines featuring the professionals.
The Latin dancer, who is appearing on the show for the first time this series, was described as a “warm and friendly” person who never gets involved in trouble.
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A friend added: “Gorka’s an incredibly passive guy, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
"He’s so upbeat that he won’t let an unprovoked attack from a yob ruin his first Strictly in Blackpool.”
Gorka is expected to return to training with 2014 runner-up Frankie Bridge, 27, for the show’s Christmas special.
Born in the port city of Bilbao in northern Spain, Gorka took up dancing at 12.
He represented his country in the World Latin Championships in 2010 and reached the semi-finals of the 2012 World Dance Sport Federation World Cup.
Wider fame in the dance world came in 2014 when he joined Burn The Floor, the ballroom troupe that has toured the globe for more than 20 years.
He joined the Strictly roster this year, but he and Tameka left the show after Darcey Bussell was the only judge to vote for them in their dance-off with Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice.
He later stepped in to partner singer Anastacia in week five after Brendan Cole fell ill.
Gorka recently got engaged to Scottish singer Lauren Sheridan, 26, who joined him in Blackpool as part of the Strictly backroom team.
Before Saturday’s show he posted a picture of them on Instagram with the caption: “Blackpool...!!! first time and sharing it with @laurensheridan26 @bbcstrictly.’’
Last night Lauren’s father Gerald, who also attended the show, seemed unaware of the attack.
He said: “We’ve only just got back from Blackpool ourselves and don’t really know anything.”
Dancers Alijaz and Neil, who were out with Gorka, are thought to have avoided the altercation, which was not reported to police.
None of this year’s celebrity contestants were present when the attack took place.
This year’s cast, which includes politician Ed Balls, 49, Judge Rinder, 38, and singer Louise Redknapp, 42, all chose to stay in their hotel after the competition finished.
Strictly bosses confirmed Gorka will be returning next weekend.
A show spokesman said: “Gorka was sadly the victim of an unprovoked incident in Blackpool on Saturday night but he will be back in training this week and is looking forward to the group routine next weekend.”
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