In a revelation that seems straight out of a soap opera plot, television personality Emily Atack has uncovered a incredible family secret that connects her to British television royalty. The discovery came not from a family historian, but from the nation's favourite soap itself.
During a recent interview on the Coronation Street: Icons podcast, the actress and comedian was left utterly gobsmacked when presenter Greg James dropped the bombshell. The show's researchers had delved into her family tree and found a link that would make any soap fan green with envy.
A Legendary Connection
It turns out that Emily Atack is distantly related to none other than William Roache – the legendary actor who has played Ken Barlow since the very first episode of Coronation Street aired in 1960. The connection makes Roache, the world's longest-serving soap actor, a cousin several times removed.
"I've just found this out live on air with you," a stunned Atack responded during the podcast recording. The Inbetweeners star admitted this revelation put her entire career into a new perspective, jokingly questioning whether she had been given opportunities due to talent or this newly discovered family ties.
Family Ties to the Cobbles
This isn't Atack's only connection to the famous Manchester-based soap. Her mother, Kate Robbins, also has Corrie credentials, having played the role of Anne Malone in the late 1990s. Robbins' character was memorably killed off after being trapped in a freezer – a dramatic exit that fans still remember decades later.
The acting talent clearly runs deep in the family. Atack's aunt is none other than Amy Robbins, known for her role in BBC's Doctors, while her uncle is the successful comic actor Ted Robbins.
Despite growing up surrounded by acting royalty, this particular connection to one of Britain's most beloved television institutions remained hidden until now. It seems even in families steeped in showbusiness, there are still surprises waiting to be uncovered.
