Emily Atack's new boyfriend and father of her unborn baby is her step-cousin, Web can reveal.
The Inbetweeners actress proudly announced on Instagram last week that she was dating boyfriend Dr. Alistair Garner is expecting her first baby.
Emily, 34, posted a black and white photo showing off her baby bump and told her 1.9 million followers that she was “over the moon” to be five months pregnant with her first baby in April expected.
Emily and Alistair recently set up their home together in preparation for the arrival of the baby.
Now we can reveal that Emily's mother Kate Robbins is the sister of Alistair's stepmother Jane Garner.
Emily Atack's new boyfriend and father of her unborn baby is her step-cousin, Web can reveal (pictured together in September)
The Inbetweeners actress proudly announced on Instagram last week that she was expecting her first baby with boyfriend Dr. Alistair Garner awaits
Alistair, 37, appears in a 2017 photo of the close-knit family surrounded by female members of Emily's family and with his arm around the star's sister Martha
Emily has known Alistair for almost three decades. They were introduced to each other after Emily's aunt went out with Alistair's father Stephen Garner in the early hours before their wedding in 1994.
Alistair, 37, a nuclear scientist, appears in a 2017 photo of the close-knit family, in which he is surrounded by female members of Emily's family and has his arm around the star's sister Martha. The caption read: “He's really just one of the girls.”
Emily, whose mother Kate is estranged from her singer father Keith, is also close to her showbiz relatives, including Phoenix Nights star uncle Ted Robbins and her other aunt, former soap actress Amy Robbins.
Emily and Alistair kept their relationship secret for a while, but have grown closer over the past year and recently moved in together.
A source told Web: “Emily and Alistair have grown close over the last 12 months.”
“It was unexpected but her family is happy for her. “They are a great couple and everyone is looking forward to their new arrival.”
Web has contacted Emily's representatives for comment.
The star announced last weekend that she is expecting her first baby. She posted the snapshot of her belly and told her followers that she had “never been so happy and scared at the same time.”
Alistair pictured with his late father Steve. Emily's aunt began dating Alistair's father Stephen Garner in the early nightgowns before they married in 1994
Emily's late Uncle Steve, Alistair's father, passed away last year
Alistair's father Steve died last summer and Emily paid a touching tribute to her on Instagram, saying she was “heartbroken” over the loss
Emily pictured with her mother Kate Robbins. Emily's mother is the sister of Alistair's stepmother Jane Garner
Emily and Alistair kept their relationship secret for a while, but have grown closer over the past year and recently moved in together
Emily didn't mention Alistair's name in the lengthy post, preferring to call the couple “we.”
Alistair completed his PhD at the University of Manchester on a project sponsored by Rolls Royce before working as a researcher and lecturing there.
He currently works as a materials scientist for Jacobs. They were photographed together in London's Chinatown in September, walking hand in hand before enjoying a drink at Cafe Bohem. Emily was secretly pregnant at the time.
Alistair's father Steve died last summer and Emily paid a touching tribute to her on Instagram, saying she was “heartbroken” over the loss.
She wrote: “I feel truly blessed and honored to have some of my most treasured memories with you, Uncle Steve aka 'Uncle Beef', The Mountain Man.” The light of our lives. “I love you so much and I will miss you incredibly.” May you live on through the music and the mountains. “Rest easy, my wonderful Uncle Beef.”
Alistair's mother Morag separated from his father when he was a child.
His stepmother Jane was once in a pop band called Prima Donna with Emily's mother.
In 1980, the group represented Great Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest and came third with the song “Love Enough for Two”.
The sisters remain close and can be seen in a photo on Kate's Instagram with the caption, “FaaaaamilyInnit.”
Since then, she has remained active in the entertainment business, working in television and film and making props and sets, using her talent as a sculptor.
Jane also created a life-size bronze sculpture of the late Linda McCartney holding a lamb, which was installed on the grounds of the Campbeltown Museum in Scotland.
The animal rights activist, who died in 1998, was the former partner of Sir Paul McCartney, Jane's mother's first cousin.
Alistair started dating Emily after she split from former Big Brother star and tree surgeon ex-boyfriend Liam McGough last year.
She has previously been linked to superstar singer Harry Styles, comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh and footballer Jack Grealish. Emily became famous for her role as Charlotte E in the cult comedy series The Inbetweeners, which made her a favorite of boys' magazines.
Since the sitcom, she starred in the remake of Dad's Army and came second in the 2018 series I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and starred in her own ITV2 comedy sketch show.
She also received praise for her 2023 documentary “Emily Atack: Asking for It?”, which explored why she is sexually harassed online every day and why the blame for unwanted sexual attention is regularly placed on the victim.
Emily spent some time out of the spotlight before revealing her pregnancy with Alistair last weekend.
Her full Instagram statement read: “Hi everyone, it's been a while but I'm back with news. “I'm excited to share with you all that we're having a baby!! “I have never been so happy and so scared at the same time.
“Please be careful with me. Every day is full of thrills, fear, joy and hysteria, topped off with lots of vomiting – a bit like you've just stepped out of Oblivion in Alton Towers with a hangover.
“I've gotten to know my body on such an insane level.” I value what I've been given so much that I'm doing my best to make it a home for the little octopus I'm raising.
“We can already feel that the baby is lying there on a mattress full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and is asking for more chocolate chips.” “I'm so happy to be writing all this to you.” You've always stayed by my side all these years, stay here and watch as I enter my mother's era. Christ. Let's go.'