Pregnant Emily Atack shows off her baby bump in a tight brown dress after being slammed by trolls for touching her tummy ‘too much’

Pregnant Emily Atack showed off her burgeoning baby bump in a chic brown dress as she posed for a sexy Instagram photo on Wednesday.

The TV personality, 34, who recently came under fire for touching her baby bump “too much,” opted not to cradle her stomach this time around.

Emily looked radiant in a fitted, flowy dress and highlighted her figure with brown leather heeled boots.

In the caption of her post, she joked: “I’m going to last about 30 seconds in these boots.”

The Inbetweeners star, who is due to give birth in April, was forced to respond to cruel trolls who demanded to know why she always touches her belly.

Last week, Emily shared a comment on her Instagram that read, “How heavy is the bump?” I haven’t seen a photo without the hand.”

In response to the comment, she wrote: ‘I find this very interesting. I, like so many women, receive a lot of comments and questions like this (mostly from men) asking me why I feel the need to always be cradling my belly or touching it in some way.

‘It seems to really irritate some people. My only answer is that she is my baby whom I carry physically and literally. It is one of the most natural instincts in the world. It is a sign of affection and protection.

And I’m probably hungry too. I hope this answers your pestilent questions.’

She also shared a second comment that read: ‘Looks terrible! And I really hate that “cradling the baby belly” thing. So affected; he shouts “look at me, I’m pregnant, aren’t I superior to you?” Yuck!’

Emily replied: “I’m carrying a human love, not a damn Prada bag.”

Emily proudly announced on Instagram in early January that she was expecting her first child with Alistair, who is also an adopted cousin she grew up with.

Posting a black and white photo showing off her baby bump, Emily told her 1.9 million followers she was “over the moon” to be five months pregnant and giving birth in April.

Emily later said she feels “overwhelmed by the support” after making the surprise announcement that she is pregnant.

The star rested the gingerbread cookie on her belly and calmed her nausea with a cup of tea from ‘mummy’s cup’.

She wrote: ‘Overwhelmed with all your messages of support for our Baba! I’m stuck at home very sick so your kind messages really cheer me up. It turns out the same goes for M&S gingerbread cookies.

The actress has known Alistair for almost three decades as her mother Kate Robbins is the sister of Alistair’s stepmother, Jane Garner.

They were introduced after Emily’s aunt started dating Alistair’s father, Stephen Garner, in nightgowns before they married in 1994.

Alistair appears in a close-knit family photo in 2017 where he is surrounded by female members of Emily’s family and has his arm around the star’s sister, Martha.

The caption read: “Actually, he’s just one of the girls.”

Emily, whose mother Kate is separated from her singer father Keith, is also close to her showbiz relatives, including Phoenix Night star uncle Ted Robbins and her other aunt, former soap actress Amy Robbins.

Emily and Alistair kept their relationship a secret for some time, but have grown closer over the past year and recently moved in together.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Emily and Alistair have become close over the last 12 months.

“It was unexpected, but their family is delighted for them. They make a great couple and everyone is excited for their new arrival.”