A RYAN VISIT
Lily Slater’s killer dad back again
EastEnders bad boy 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 first joined the BBC show in 2009 and was never far away from drama.
Having married and divorced Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) after it was revealed he fathered baby Lily with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), he also went to prison for killing Rob Grayson ( Jody Latham).
Having brief ly reprised his role in 2016, Neil is heading back to the show.
And, in a bombshell storyline, oryline, he will learn his 12-year-ar- old daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) ner) is pregnant.
A soap insider teased: “It’s safe to say that his return rn to the Square is far from om smooth sai l ing. There’s e’s going to be a lot of drama.” a.”
On returning to EastEnders, ders,
Neil, 41, 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 added: “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 is back for a short stint and has filmed his episodes, which will go out next month.
His character Ryan, who now lives in WakefieldWakefiel with his prison off icer wife, wwas last seen in November 2016 whenw he returned to the Square for Whitney’s wedding to Lee Carter after his surprise early releaserel from prison. Neil is currentlcurrently playing Johnny in the playp Home, I’m Darling at the Theatre
Royal WWindsor.