EastEnders has announced that Ryan Malloy is set to return to Albert Square next month. Ryan, who first appeared in the BBC One soap in 2009, will once again be played by Neil McDermott as he makes a comeback to Walford in February.
Having first landed on screens as Whitney Dean’s half-brother, Ryan spent two drama-fuelled years in Walford during which time he married and divorced Janine Butcher, fathered a baby, Lily, with Stacey Slater and served a short prison sentence for the accidental killing of Rob Grayson.
Following his departure in 2011, Ryan returned to the Square for a number of surprise appearances. Having last briefly reprised his role in November 2016, when he returned to Walford for Whitney’s wedding to Lee Carter, Ryan is set to head back to Albert Square following news that his 12-year-old daughter Lily – played by Lillia Turner – is pregnant.
Speaking ahead of his character’s return to the beloved soap, Neil, 42, said: "When I heard what the story was I was really pleased that the stars aligned and I was able to revisit Ryan and set foot back on the Square."
He added of being back on set: "It was so lovely to see so many old friends and to work with Shona and Lacey again, as well as to meet and work with Ryan’s daughter, played beautifully by Lillia."
EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw also commented: “It’s wonderful to welcome Neil back to the role of Ryan Malloy. Although we haven’t seen Ryan for some years, his character is still intertwined in the history of two of the show’s major characters, Stacey and Whitney. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him back for a short while as he’s thrust into the heart of the drama.”
Neil's return as Ryan will only be for three episodes which will air BBC One next month but it comes at a dramatic time for those closest to him. As already mentioned, Lily has found herself pregnant, age 12, after sleeping with fellow schoolboy Ricky Jnr. A brief 'who's the father' storyline unfolded over Christmas after Stacey was left stunned by the revelation.
Ryan's return also comes after EastEnders is working alongside SOFT UK and Antenatal Results and Choices on a new story which will see his half-sister Whitney, who is currently pregnant, and Zack Hudson's baby diagnosed with Edwards’ Syndrome. Whitney and Zack, played by Shona McGarty and James Farrar, receive the diagnosis in scenes to also air in February when an ultrasound scan identifies a birth defect which prompts further testing.
According to the NHS, Edwards' syndrome (also known as trisomy 18) is a genetic condition that begins to affect babies when they're in the womb, and continues to impact their health throughout their life. It's a rare but serious condition. In the UK, around 3 in every 10,000 births are affected by Edwards' syndrome.
EastEnders is working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK to accurately reflect and raise awareness of Edwards’ Syndrome whilst sensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis.
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