03 January 2024 , 16:30
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Emily Atack announced her shock pregnancy just before the end of the year was out – and now it’s emerged her secret boyfriend is her step-cousin.
The 34-year-old actress and comedy star, who is best known for playing the iconic character Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners, is said to have set up a home with nuclear scientist Dr Alistair Garner, 37, after dating for around a year.
But the pair are thought to have known each other for decades through family connections – as it’s reported that Emily’s famous mum, actress Kate Robbins, is sisters with Alistair’s step-mum Jane Garner.
Though it is only a relation by marriage, it means the future parents are technically step-cousins as the Daily Mail reported Jane had been married to Steve Garner since the Nineties. Steve was a favourite uncle of Emily’s - and Alistair’s father.
Emily with her late Uncle Steve, who she affectionately called 'Uncle Beef' (Instagram)
Steve, who passed away last summer, is Alistair's father (Instagram)Sadly Steve, who fans dubbed a Richard Gere lookalike, passed away last summer. Taking to social media at the time to pay tribute to her beloved uncle, who was known to the family as ‘Uncle Beef’, heartbroken Emily wrote: “I often shared photos and stories with you all on here about him because I simply adored him. Everybody did. The smartest and funniest soul you could ever wish to have in your company. Always sharing his talents and love for music, cooking, hiking and writing. He appreciated every single day he was here, his zest and enthusiasm for life was infectious.”
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She added: “I am truly blessed and honoured 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 beyond belief. May you live on through the music and the mountains. Rest easy my wonderful Uncle Beef.”
Emily's mum Kate also appeared to confirm the family connection as she referred to Alistair as her 'nephew' in an unearthed post on social media. Sharing a throwback snap of herself alongside one of Alistair she wrote: "In 1982 I had this rather moody publicity shot taken. Yes, cringe. Forward to 2019 #Glastonbury, my nephew @bigfattyalan is wearing same jacket (minus tassels) Good recycling."
Emily's mum Kate shared this throwback snap from 2019 calling Alistair her nephew (Instagram)Love appears to have blossomed for Emily and Alistair since then, though they are thought to have been in each other’s lives for 30 years. Alistair has often been spotted in family photos, including a group shot with Emily, her mum Kate, aunt Jane and sister Martha, which was captioned: “He’s just one of the girls really.”
Before finding love with Alistair, Emily – whose famous exes are rumoured to include Harry Styles, McFly’s Dougie Poynter, Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice and footballer Jack Grealish - had said she was tired of flying the flag for single girls and sometimes cried herself to sleep as she was so lonely.
A source told the Daily Mail: "Emily and Alistair have grown close over the past 12 months. It was unexpected but their family is delighted for them. They make a great couple and everybody is excited for their new arrival."
Alistair Garner (middle) with Emily and her sister Martha (middle), their mum Kate (back) and aunt Jane (left) (Instagram)And it seems everybody is excited to meet the new arrival when he or she makes an appearance in April, as Emily is thought to currently be around five months pregnant and has been keeping a low profile so she can hide her growing bump.
Sharing the same snap Emily did to announce her surprise pregnancy, her proud dad Keith Atack – a musician who was married to her mum Kate from 1987 to 2008 – couldn’t contain his excitement he was going to be a grandparent as he wrote: “I’m going to be a Grandad!!! Couldn’t be more thrilled xxx congratulations to Emily and Al.”
Ex-wife Kate wrote underneath the cute message: “Granpa Keef!” Over on her own Instagram, the 65-year-old, famous for starring in EastEnders, After Life and most recently Channel 4 ’s The Couple Next Door, said she was "thrilled" by the news that she would be becoming a grandmother. Taking to her Instagram Stories Kate wrote alongside a photo of Emily: "My baby having a baby. Could not be more thrilled if I tried."
Alistair's step-mum Jane (middle) was once in a pop band with her sister, Emily's mum Kate (left) (Instagram)Kate and Keith are also parents to daughter Martha, 31, a talent agent, and 32-year-old son George. But back in the Eighties, Kate was in a band called Prima Donna with her sister Jane and they represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, coming third in 1980 with the song ‘Love Enough for Two’.
Fame runs in the family as Kate is also the sister of actress Amy Robbins, who recently starred as barmaid Daisy’s mum Christina in Coronation Street – and their mother was reportedly the in-law cousin once removed of Beatles star Paul McCartney as she was cousins with Paul’s late wife Linda McCartney.
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Announcing her pregnancy last weekend, Emily shared a photo of her bump and told her 1.8 million Instagram followers: “Hello everyone, it's been a little while but I'm back with some news. I'm delighted to share with you all that we're having a baby!"
Emily with mum Kate, dad Keith and younger siblings Martha and George (Instagram)She continued: "I've never been so happy and utterly terrified at the same time. Please go easy on me. Every day is mixed with thrill, fear, joy, hysteria, topped off with a lot of vomiting - a bit like when you've just stepped off of the Oblivion at on a hangover.
"I've got to know my body on such an insane level. It's made me appreciate the one I've been given SO much, I'm doing my absolute best to make it a home for the little squid I'm growing. We can already sense the baby is reclined on a mattress with peanut butter and jam sandwiches in there, demanding more chocolate buttons. I'm so happy to be writing all of this to you all. You've always stuck by me through the years, do stick around to watch me enter my mum era. Christ. Let's go."
The Mirror has contacted representative for Emily for comment on this story.