Emily Atack has shared a rare insight into her and partner Alex Garner’s surprise pregnancy, five months after she welcomed son Barney.
The Rivals actress, 34, revealed the couple discovered the news last year on their very first holiday together in Italy and described it as the ‘most perfect day’ of her life.
Emily rarely comments on her private life, but recalled how the lovebirds were discussing future plans for a family on their last day in Palmero, when she realized she had actually missed her period.
She told me The times: ‘[Alistair] joked: “Then let’s buy a pregnancy test.” We did that and I was pregnant. It was the happiest, most perfect day of my life. Not long after, he packed all his stuff into a van in Manchester where he lived and arrived at my house.’
Emily explained that she and Alex soon bought a property together and the day after they finished unpacking, their son was born.
Emily Atack has shared rare insights into her and partner Alex Garner’s surprise pregnancy, five months after she welcomed son Barney
The Rivals actress revealed the couple discovered the news last year during their very first holiday together in Italy and described it as the ‘most perfect day’ of her life
Emily rarely comments on her private life, but recalled how the lovebirds were discussing future family plans on their last day in Palmero when she realized she had missed her period.
She went on to explain how the handsome scientist is so proud of her career, something she has never experienced in a relationship, and admitted that he eagerly cuts out articles about her from newspapers and magazines to keep.
While gushing over Alex, Emily also teased wedding plans: “I know Al will take care of me and Barney.” I know he will ultimately be the best father and the best husband. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”
In another candid confession, the actress revealed how, just after filming Disney+’s smash hit Rivals, she supported her partner by his dying father’s side, saying the tragedy brought them closer as a couple.
‘We lay together at the deathbed and then we left the room and hugged each other. We held each other for about 20 minutes and we just knew. There was history, but at that moment something became clear. “This was love. This was real.”
Emily told me earlier HELLO! magazine that she felt like she had “won the lottery” with their son Barney, adding that she couldn’t have gotten through the “difficult birth” with anyone but Alex.
She told the publication, “I couldn’t ask for a better partner and Al is the only person on this earth I could have done this with.
‘It was a very difficult birth and after 12 hours of labor I ended up having an emergency caesarean section, but he was so calm.’
The former Inbetweeners star also described Alistair as her ‘literal rock’ and can’t imagine her life with anyone else.
While talking about her partner, Emily also teased wedding plans: “I know Al will take care of me and Barney. I know he will ultimately be the best father and the best husband.”
In another candid confession, the actress revealed how she supported her partner by his dying father’s side, saying the tragedy brought them closer together as a couple.
She added: “All of life’s clichés come true when you fall in love and have a baby. He is my rock, but he is really, literally, my rock; I couldn’t live with anyone else but him.’
Emily had known Alistair for more than 30 years when they began dating, and MailOnline revealed he is actually her aunt’s stepson.
In her autobiography Are We There Yet? in 2019, Emily gave clues as to why she ended up in a relationship with 38-year-old Alistair, because her cousins ”understand each other on a deep level.”
She says, “Cousins are the best invention since the Game Boy. They are essentially 50 percent siblings and 50 percent partners. You look the same, but different…
“You understand each other on a deep, deep level and you have a smidgen more social etiquette towards them than your brother or sister…
“It makes me sad for my friends who don’t have that kind of relationship with their cousins, because mine were the best friends I ever had. They are still my best friends to this day.”
Emily had known Alistair for over 30 years by the time they started dating, and it was later revealed that he is her aunt’s stepson (pictured on Loose Women in October 2024)
Emily previously called her cousins ’the best invention since the Game Boy’ and ’50 percent sibling, 50 percent partner’ before revealing she was expecting a baby with her aunt’s stepson (pictured with Alistair)
Emily has a host of cousins thanks to the extended families of both her parents, actress Kate and singer father Keith Atack, who split in 2007.
Alistair comes from his mother’s side and is the stepson of Kate’s sister Jane, who married his late father Stephen Garner.
The former Celebrity Juice star had kept fans updated on the ups and downs of her pregnancy, showing off her huge baby bump as she counted down the days until she gave birth.
But when the baby boy showed up, she said “all her dreams came true” with the new arrival.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘We have a beautiful son. Barney James Garner. All my dreams have come true.’