EastEnders badboy and ladies’ man Ryan Malloy is making a shock return to Albert Square.
The soap favourite, played by Neil McDermott, is back in Walford after almost seven years away, we can reveal.
Whitney Dean’s (Shona McGarty) half-brother was never far from drama after joining the BBC show in 2009.
He married and divorced Janine Butcher, played by Charlie Brooks. It was then revealed he fathered baby Lily with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and he went on to have an affair with the mother of his child.
He also went to prison for killing Rob Grayson (Jody Latham). Having briefly reprised his role in 2016, Neil is heading back to the show. And in a bombshell storyline he will learn his 12-year-old daughter, Lily (Lillia Turner) is pregnant.
A soap insider teased: “It’s safe to say that his return to the Square is far from smooth sailing. There’s going to be a lot of drama.”
On returning to EastEnders, 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.
“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.”
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “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 is thrust into the heart of the drama.”
Neil is back for a short stint and has filmed his episodes, which will go out next month.
Ryan, who now lives in Wakefield with his prison officer wife, was last seen in November 2016, when he returned to the Square for Whitney’s wedding to Lee Carter following his surprise early release from prison.
Dad-of-two Neil has appeared in a string TV shows including The Royal, Lauren’s Diary, Inspector George Gently, and Casualty, as well as starring in a number of stage shows, including Pretty Woman.
He is currently playing Johnny in Bill Kenwright’s production of Laura Wade’s thought-provoking comedy Home, I’m Darling at the Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday. It then goes to Derby.
