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Emily Atack has shocked her fans by revealing that she is expecting a baby with her stepcousin, Dr Alistair Garner.
The Inbetweeners star, who played Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the hit comedy series, shared the surprising news on Instagram last week, along with a black and white photo of her cradling her baby bump.
She wrote: "I'm over the moon to announce that I'm five months pregnant and due to give birth in April. I can't wait to meet our little one and start this new chapter of our lives."
She added: "I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, but Alistair and I are very much in love and have been together for a while. He is the most wonderful man I've ever met and I'm so lucky to have him by my side."
However, what Emily did not mention in her post is that Alistair is actually her stepcousin, as MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
Emily's mother, Kate Robbins, is the sister of Alistair's stepmother, Jane Garner, who married his father, David Garner, in 2010.
Kate and Jane are both well-known actresses and comedians, who have appeared in shows such as Spitting Image, Dinnerladies and The Harry Enfield Show.
A source close to the family told MailOnline: "Emily and Alistair met through their mothers, who are very close. They grew up knowing each other, but they only started dating last year, after they reconnected at a family gathering."
The source added: "They kept their relationship a secret for a while, as they were worried about how their families would react. But they eventually decided to go public, as they are very happy and excited about the baby."
Emily and Alistair, who is a cardiologist at a London hospital, have recently moved in together to a new flat in the capital, where they are preparing for their baby's arrival.
The source said: "They are both over the moon and can't wait to be parents. They have the full support of their families, who are delighted for them."
Emily, who also starred in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018, has previously dated comedian Seann Walsh, model Jack Vacher and singer Harry Styles.
She has also spoken openly about her struggles with body image and mental health, and has written a memoir titled Are We There Yet? To Indignity... And Beyond!
She is currently working on a new comedy show for ITV2, called Emily Atack: Adulting, which will follow her life as a single woman in her 30s.
Alistair, who graduated from Oxford University and King's College London, has also appeared on TV, as he was featured in the BBC documentary Hospital in 2019, which followed the work of NHS staff.
He has also written several articles for medical journals and magazines, and has won awards for his research on heart diseases.
Emily and Alistair have not revealed the gender or the name of their baby yet, but they are expected to share more details in the coming months..
