Strictly Come Dancing love-rat Seann Walsh had a secret fling with actress Emily Atack behind the back of his long-suffering girlfriend
The comic, 32, had a series of liaisons, meeting at pubs and hotels with the actress, 28, after they met at the Edinburgh Fringe
STRICTLY’S Seann Walsh had a secret fling with actress Emily Atack behind the back of his long-suffering girlfriend.
The comic, 32 — dumped by furious Rebecca Humphries last week after he was pictured snogging TV dance partner Katya Jones — went on a string of dates with the Inbetweeners star, 28.
A source said: “They were really keen on each other. Emily told people she was in love with Seann.”
Strictly love rat Seann and actress Emily were “totally wrapped up in each other” as they shared a string of dates, a source has revealed.
The pair “clicked” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2016 and went on to enjoy a series of liaisons, meeting at pubs and hotels.
Their fling took place behind the back of comedian Seann’s girlfriend Rebecca Humphries, who ended their five-year romance this week after he was snapped snogging Strictly dancer Katya Jones.
And the source said: “Seann and Emily were really keen on each other. They were totally wrapped up in each other’s company.”
A picture emerged days ago showing Seann, 32, and 28-year-old Emily together in a pub in London’s Soho in December 2016.
But the encounter was not a one- off, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Seann first met Emily — who hit fame as temptress Charlotte Hinchcliffe in E4 hit The Inbetweeners — when they appeared together on a 2014 episode of E4 game show Virtually Famous.
Both went on to attend the Edinburgh Festival, where it is said their friendship took off.
The source revealed the pair saw each other for dates over a period of months — with Seann whisking Emily off to central London pubs and restaurants.
The source said: “They already knew each other when they went to the Edinburgh Festival, but that is where they properly clicked.
“The picture that came out this week suggests they just met the once but that’s really not the case.”
At the time of the festival, Seann was on his One for the Road tour which took in Edinburgh. Emily posted an Instagram picture of herself arriving in the city and giving a thumbs-up sign.
The pair also moved in the same social and professional circles. Our source added: “Emily told people she was in love with Seann. She liked the way he was funny and quite macho — a man’s man.
“He obviously made her laugh but also treated her well and lavished her with her gifts and flowers. She liked the fact that he was a little bit older and more experienced than her, so seemed like a man of the world.”
Actress Rebecca, 32, repeatedly questioned Seann about the way he acted around Emily.
The source added: “Seann might not be Strictly’s best dancer, but his footwork at this time was very impressive. He was extremely evasive when asked about his relationships. Emily was under the impression he was single. Seann was never candid about him and Rebecca.”
Single Emily previously dated British model Jack Vachar, 24.
They were pictured together holding hands in Nottingham in May 2016 when Emily was in a stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
They later split and Emily now lives alone in North West London.
Our source said: “Seann is totally different from Jack. Jack is clean-living and caring. Emily and Jack clashed over the nature of her relationship with Seann. But things between Emily and Jack weren’t clear-cut so it wasn’t like she was cheating.
“In the end Emily and Seann stopped seeing each other as she knew there was no future in it.
“But they were so natural as a couple I wouldn’t be surprised if they were still in touch or even if they got back together.”
Seann was pictured exclusively in The Sun on Sunday last week kissing 29-year-old Katya — wed to fellow Strictly dance pro Neil, 35.
The steamy snog, on Rebecca's birthday, followed weeks of flirting. Devastated Rebecca went on to end her relationship with Seann with a Twitter blast last Monday.
Seann and Katya scored 28 from judges for their Charleston on last night’s BBC1 episode of Strictly.
2 Wallies in dirty dance
NOT since Patrick Swayze swooped Baby into his arms has there been a more eagerly anticipated dirty dance.
Seann and Katya had wanted to move on from the furore but the Beeb had other ideas, gleefully prolonging their misery to shove them on next from last.
Rictus grins in place and jazz hands whizzing, the pair shimmied down the staircase to a chorus of slightly muted cheers.
Their Where’s Wally red and white stripes showed the wardrobe department was well-briefed: no leather or tassels.
The Charleston is a quirky, unsexy dance. And Seann and Katya performed it tongues in cheek. They pranced before a pizza oven and Katya flung a cardboard takeaway box. Judge Bruno praised their “magic”, saying they successfully “went for it”. As seen last week . . .
- By Clemmie Moodie, Associate Showbiz Editor
most read in tv and showbiz
They screamed and hugged as the marks were revealed — but were mocked by fans on social media.
One wrote: “Seann does not know where to put his hands. That was such an awkward performance!”
Another posted: “They don’t know how to act with each other.”