Emily Atack has made a notable return to television with the second series of Rivals, sparking increased public interest not only in her acting but also in her personal life.
The 36-year-old actress and comedian reprises her role as Sarah Stratton in the 1980s-set Disney+ drama Rivals, which premiered its twelve-episode season on May 15. This marks an expansion from the eight episodes of the first season. Fans have grown increasingly curious about Atack’s life off-screen as her visibility rises.
Atack first captured attention with her role in the Channel 4 sitcom The Inbetweeners and has built a diverse television career that includes appearances on reality shows like I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing on Ice, as well as comedy programs such as The Keith Lemon Sketch Show and her own The Emily Atack Show.
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Recently, speculation has mounted around her potentially stepping into a presenting role on the beloved BBC hit show Strictly Come Dancing. Insiders reveal that Atack is enthusiastic about the possibility, viewing Strictly as her dream job and a natural next step in her career. Should she secure the role, she would follow the long-standing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who have been fixtures on the show since 2014 and 2004 respectively. The BBC has yet to announce the new presenters for the upcoming autumn season.
Despite this interest in hosting, Atack has not taken part as a contestant on Strictly. She has candidly admitted that she avoids performing dance routines publicly, humorously remarking that no one needs to witness her dance moves at this time.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Atack has been vocal about her struggles with online harassment. She has endured years of vitriolic trolling, including being bombarded with hundreds of abusive messages, which eventually led her to involve the police. This period of her life inspired the BBC documentary Emily Atack: Asking For It?, where she explored the epidemic of online sexual abuse targeted at women.
Atack has challenged the social narrative that blames victims rather than perpetrators and has taken her advocacy all the way to Parliament, campaigning in 2022 to criminalize cyber-flashing. Her efforts included attempts to understand and engage with some of the men who sent her inappropriate messages.
In a revealing interview on This Morning in 2023, Atack detailed a decade-long battle with anonymous trolls. While most offenders ignored her attempts to communicate, one man finally responded, explaining his disturbing rationale for targeting her. His claim—that Atack’s persona made her an “easy target” and seemed to invite such behaviour—deeply affected her.
She reflected on the harsh reality faced by women who openly celebrate their sexuality and youth: such expression is often misconstrued as an invitation for unwanted attention, underscoring the persistent challenges around misogyny and online abuse.
Rivals season two is available to stream weekly on Fridays on Disney+.