Neil McDermott is set to reprise his role for a short stint this February in the wake of Lily's shock pregnancy news.
Ryan, played by Neil McDermott, first arrived in Walford in 2009 as Whitney Dean’s half-brother and over his two years in Albert Square he was never far away from drama having married and divorced Janine once it was revealed he fathered baby Lily with Stacey which resulted in their subsequent affair.
He also served a short sentence in prison for accidentally killing Rob Grayson whilst defending the protection of half-sister Whitney.
He briefly reprised his role in November 2016, returning to the Square for Whitney’s wedding to Lee Carter following his surprise early release from Prison in September 2016 and now lives in Wakefield with his prison officer wife Helen.
Ryan is heading back to the Square following news that his 12-year-old daughter, Lily, is pregnant. It’s safe to say that his return to the Square is far from smooth sailing, but viewers will have to wait and see the drama unfold onscreen.
On returning to EastEnders, Neil McDermott 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."
To which executive producer Chris Clenshaw added "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."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One