Emily Atack is back on our screens, reprising her role as Sarah Stratton in the second season of the 1980s drama Rivals, now streaming on Disney+. The show’s new season, available from May 15, features 12 episodes—four more than the first season—captivating audiences with its gripping storyline set in a bygone era.
At 36, Emily’s rising profile has fans eager to learn more about her life beyond acting. She first caught the public eye with memorable performances in Channel 4’s The Inbetweeners and the original Rivals series. Alongside her acting, she has showcased her comedic talents on The Emily Atack Show and appeared on popular reality programs such as I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Dancing on Ice, and The Keith Lemon Sketch Show.
Recently, rumors have swirled that Emily might join the presenting team of the famed BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing, possibly taking over from long-term hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. An insider shared with Closer magazine in January that it would be a dream role for Emily, who admires the show and feels ready to take her career to the next level. If confirmed, she would step into shoes occupied by Daly since 2004 and Winkleman since 2014. The BBC has yet to announce any official changes for the upcoming autumn series.
READ MORE: Heartbroken Rivals Viewers ‘In Tears’ Over Turbulent Romance in Season 2
READ MORE: Somerset’s Alfie Ogborne Selected for England Lions Four-Day Squad
Interestingly, despite the hosting speculation, Emily herself has never appeared as a contestant on Strictly. In a candid Radio Times interview, she humorously admitted she didn’t think audiences were ready to witness her dance moves just yet.
Beyond her professional life, Emily has openly confronted the darker side of fame: relentless online harassment. She has revealed enduring a decade of vile, persistent trolling that was severe enough to involve police intervention. These experiences inspired her to present the BBC documentary Emily Atack: Asking For It?, which delves into the widespread issue of online sexual abuse targeting women.
Emily has challenged the culture blaming victims rather than perpetrators, even taking her campaign to Parliament in 2022, advocating for criminalizing cyber-flashing. She sought to understand the abusers’ mindsets by directly engaging with some offenders—an effort to shed light on why such behaviour persists.
In 2023, Emily shared on This Morning how one troll’s confession hurt deeply: he said he targeted her because she “came across as a type of girl that is up for that kind of behaviour.” This heartbreaking admission highlighted the difficulties faced by women who openly celebrate their sexuality and confidence, only to be met with judgment and abuse.
As Emily Atack continues to balance her thriving career and advocacy, her story remains a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of adversity and the ongoing fight for a safer, more respectful online world.