Emily Atack's wild love life as she opens up about 'hurtful' comments criticising new partner

After years of searching for Mr Right, Emily Atack appears to have finally met her match with scientist Dr Alistair Garner, who was right under her nose after having known him for decades

When Emily Atack announced her happy pregnancy news, she didn't expect to face a barrage of cruel comments that she was "dating her cousin".

The actress and TV presenter, 34, has had a string of celebrity romances, having been linked to some well-known names, but has finally found her match with partner Dr Alistair Garner. However people were quick to accuse the former Inbetweeners star of being in a relationship with her cousin, something she has now called "damaging" as she opened up about the torment.

The pair excitedly announced the birth of their little boy in June, with Emily saying her "dreams have come true". But she has previously been quiet about their romance after a string of cruel comments criticising how they found love.

It's thought Emily and her nuclear scientist boyfriend Alistair have known each other for decades through family connections - as it's reported Emily's mum, Kate Robbins, is sisters with Alistair's step-mum Jane Garner. Although it's only a relation by marriage, Emily has addressed the "very awful" rumours and the impact they have had on her family.

She has now opened up about the tough year it's been. "There were so many articles which were really hurtful, trying to make out there was something untoward about my relationship," she said in an interview with the Guardian. "There were headlines saying that I was dating my cousin, which is very damaging, very awful. We're not related in any way.

"I think some family members found that very tough. It's anger towards women. Men are so angry with sexy women. It's like, 'We'll give you a little bit of power, but not too much. Here, you look nice on this front cover, but also, you're a fat, ugly pig.'"

Emily was first linked to Alistair back in 2023, when the pair were seen holding hands in London, and a source said she "couldn't stop smiling". Alistair studied a PhD at the University of Manchester and also worked as a lecturer and it's now believed he works as a Senior Consultant and Technical Lead for Core Materials. Until now, Emily has been somewhat unlucky in love after being linked to quite a number of big names and we take a look at her past love life...

Liam McGough

Before finding happiness with her scientist beau, Emily was left heartbroken when her relationship with Big Brother's Liam McGough crashed and burned last year. The pair enjoyed a steamy seven month fling.

After friendship turned to romance, the pair eventually got serious with Emily introducing the former reality star to her family. Liam was even spotted watching Emily's comedian mum Kate Robbins perform a stand up gig in London.

A source said of their break-up: "Emily and Liam have been friends for a long time and were together for seven months, but sadly have decided to separate. They kept their relationship private for a while and only went public when the news broke that they were together. Sadly, they decided they were better off as friends and parted ways a few days ago, but it's all very amicable."

Harry Styles

In May 2012, a year on from his high-profile union with Caroline Flack, it was rumoured Harry and Emily had struck up a romance, although the pair did not confirm it at the time. Then, the following year, Emily admitted it all to HELLO! saying: "Yeah, we had a short-lived thing. But we were never boyfriend and girlfriend. Harry and I had fun, then went in opposite directions. We haven’t spoken in a while."

Dougie Poynter

Emily reportedly had a “friends with benefits” fling with McFly bassist Dougie Poynter after she found fame, according to The Sun. She got together with him after splitting from her model ex Jack Vacher but their brief fling didn't last too long. "They'd been friends for a long time and she joked that they were 'friends helping each other out'. a source said. "They only had a brief fling, and it was all quite light-hearted, nothing serious."

Ziggy Lichman

Back in 2018, rumours began to swirl that she was loved up with former Big Brother star Ziggy. "Emily is far from single. It’s probably the worst kept secret around where they live – they’re always together," a source told the Daily Star. "When they met this summer they realised how much they liked each other and started dating. So far it’s going really well. They’re both really fun and have a great sense of humour. They make a brilliant couple."

Rob Jowers

Former I’m a Celebrity star Emily thought she had found her perfect guy in film executive boyfriend Rob Jowers saying he “is the man I have been waiting for”. Back in 2019, she said: "I feel very lucky. I think that timing is everything – and I think that I have met Rob at a time when I am ready to get into a relationship again. “I feel like I have learned from all the other things. So far, we have had the most wonderful trip to Paris and we are going to Spain.

“I have had loving relationships and I’ve had toxic ones – and I now feel that I have got a good sense of what it takes to make a good one." But things didn't last between them.

Jack Grealish

Emily hit the headlines in 2021 when it was reported she had struck up a relationship with £100 million footballer Jack Grealish, and was left 'heartbroken' when the Manchester City star dumped her. The pair were dogged by rumours of a romance for weeks, and the fling reportedly ended abruptly after Emily allegedly gave Jack an ultimatum after finding out he wasn’t single.

She was said to be left devastated when the footballer ran back into the arms of his childhood sweetheart, and Emily was left “bruised” by the situation. Grealish has denied the rumours.

While Emily has never commented directly on the relationship, she did hint at her tumultuous love life as she said she tries to “stay away from things that aren’t good for me. It’s hard when you are a little mischievous like me!” she told Mirror Online last year. “That sometimes some people and some things are just not meant for you.”

Seann Walsh

The comedic pair had a brief romance in 2016 when they went on a string of dates. The pair are reported to have first met in 2014 on Channel 4's Virtual Reality – and their friendship took a romantic turn two years later sparking a brief fling.

However, the romance wasn't uncovered until 2018 and details of date nights at hotels and pubs were made public – before a bedroom photo of the two together leaked online that year. Seann famously dated actress Rebecca Humphries from 2013 until 2018 – at which time their romance collapsed after Seann was photographed kissing married Strictly pro-dancer Katya Jones.

Giovanni Pernice

The Italian dancer and Emily were caught enjoying a steamy smooch at a BRITs afterparty in 2022. As speculation about the pair grew last year, old pictures of them enjoying a night out together five years ago started to resurface. In the snaps, taken in November 2017, Giovanni and the former Dancing on Ice star can be seen leaving Soho House in London at 1.54am - sharing a taxi together away from the London celebrity hot spot. But posting to his Instagram Stories on Giovanni seemed to laugh off the reports.

Joe Caro

Back in 2020, Emily was reportedly enjoying a new romance with Misguided fashion executive Joe Caro. The actress-turned-reality TV star was spotted out on a date with Joe, who works on the clothing company's social media accounts, at a pub in north London. A source said: "They share the same sense of humour and are both chilled out. She’s super-busy with her career at the moment so is more than happy to take it slowly."

Dr Alistair Garner

After being accused of dating her cousin, Emily kept her relationship tightly under wraps. She announced she was pregnant on Instagram on Boxing Day last year when she posted a photo of her bump and penned alongside the snap: "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!! 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 Alton Towers 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. "

She then announced the birth of their baby in June as she took to Instagram to share the first photo. Emily wrote: "We have a beautiful son. Barney James Garner. All my dreams have come true."

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