Lee Ryan

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Lee Ryan
Lee Ryan in 2011.
Lee Ryan in 2011.
Background information
Born (1983-06-17) 17 June 1983 (age 38)
Chatham, Kent, England
GenresPop, R&B, soul
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active2000–present
LabelsSony BMG, Tale Tale, Geffen
Associated actsBlue, Elton John, Rubylux, Stevie Wonder

Lee Ryan (born 17 June 1983) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the English boy band Blue.

He has also appeared in pantomime over the years; his most recent role was the Prince at the Darlington Hippodrome in 2017.

Lee took part in the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova and was the second contestant to be eliminated on 7 October 2018. In 2019, Ryan starred in Celebs Go Dating on E4 and released his first single after nine years called Ghost. Ryan subsequently released two further solo singles in 2020, Mockingbirds and Swayed. In August 2020 Ryan was banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding twice in three months.[1] In June 2021 it was announced that Ryan is to face trial for four offences including two speeding charges, one charge of failing to tell police who was behind the wheel and a further charge.[2]

Early life[]

Lee Ryan was born in Chatham, Kent. His parents split up when he was six years old. Ryan mostly lived with his mother, sister Gemma and his grandmother. Ryan went to Bedonwell School before attending performing arts schools, including Welling School and the Independent Performing Arts School Belcanto London Academy (BLA), where he first developed his talent, then independent fee-paying theatre schools Sylvia Young Theatre School and Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Career[]

2000–2005: Career with Blue[]

Ryan is a member of boy band Blue along with Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa. The group has sold over 14 million records worldwide. In August 2005, Blue split up to pursue solo careers under the advice of Sir Elton John. Blue reformed on 28 April 2009.

Ryan has had three number one hits while with Blue.[3] He had previously co-directed the video for Blue's single "Breathe Easy", which he also wrote and which was shot in Prague. In 2001 the group were in New York during the September 11 attacks after which Ryan commented that "This New York thing is being blown out of proportion" and asked "What about whales? They are ignoring animals that are more important. Animals need saving and that's more important." The other members of the group tried to silence Ryan, but he went on. This caused a huge media backlash that resulted in Blue losing a record deal in the United States and campaigns to sack Ryan from the line up.[4]

2005–2008: Lee Ryan and stage[]

Ryan released his first single "Army of Lovers" on 18 July 2005. It debuted at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and hit No. 1 in Italy. On 1 August 2005, Ryan released his debut album, Lee Ryan, to mixed reviews. The album reached No. 6 in the UK Album Chart and No. 3 in Italy. "Turn Your Car Around" was the second single lifted from the album which had moderate success. In January 2006, Ryan released his third and final single in the UK "When I Think of You". The song reached No. 15 in the UK. "Real Love" was used for the end credits of the film Ice Age: The Meltdown which later led to Ryan voicing the part of an elk in the UK version of the film and Eddie in the Italian version. In late 2005, Dolce & Gabbana signed Ryan up to be the UK face of their new line of clothing.

After the relative success of his first solo album, Ryan started planning his second solo album. The single "Reinforce Love" was released on 10 December 2007. The single was being released for Great Ormond Street Hospital and CLIC Sargent, which were the two charities that Ryan was touring for in November and December 2007, with young voices. The album was then postponed, and finally cancelled. He appeared in the video for the single "Red Light" by a British girlband named Fe-Nix. In September 2007, he appeared as one of the contestants in Hell's Kitchen. However he rowed with Marco Pierre White about White's use of the term "pikey", and subsequently left the show.[5] In August and September 2008, Ryan acted alongside Natalie Casey in The Pretender Agenda at The New Players Theatre in London. In June 2008 Ryan was found guilty of assaulting a taxi driver in Oxted and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.[6][7]

2009–2010: Film and cancelled second album[]

In March 2010, Ryan confirmed that he had signed a new record deal with Geffen Records, due to last until 2013. Later that month, it was announced that Ryan's first album on his new record label, Confessions, was due to be released in October 2010.[8] The first single from the album, "Secret Love", was released as a double A-Side with "I Am Who I Am" on 4 July 2010. The single peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. Following this, it was announced that Geffen were set to drop Ryan from the label, before work on his album had been completed. Ryan announced in January 2011 that there was no deal to release his album.[9]

The track listing for Ryan's aborted album was as follows: "Secret Love", "I Am Who I Am", "Guardian Angel", "Perfect Strangers", "I Don't Wanna Let You Down", "I Love Your Smile", "It's Not Me", "Confessions", "Light of Your Soul", "Peaches", "Reinforce Love", "Suffice to Say", "To See the Stars", "Stop the Rain", "Why Me" and "Stand Up as People".[10]

2011–present: Return with Blue, EastEnders and Rip it Up the 70s Musical[]

Ryan stated in January 2011 that he was working on an album with Blue to be released later in the year.[9] Blue represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song "I Can", placing 11th overall.

In 2013, Blue released "Hurt Lovers" the first single from their fourth album Roulette.[11]

In August 2013, Ryan and Duncan James appeared in an episode of comedy panel show Through the Keyhole in which the host showed around their home in London.[12][13]

Ryan appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 13 in 2014. Following the show he entered a relationship with fellow Big Brother participant Jasmine Waltz.[14] Waltz split with Ryan a few weeks later claiming on Twitter that Ryan had cheated on her with a man.[15] Ryan came out as bisexual during his time on Big Brother, later stating in an interview, "I'm very open about what I've done in the past but that was the easiest way to come out. I did so much other stuff that people didn't even notice."[16] During his time on Big Brother Ryan admitted he sleeps with his Blue bandmate Duncan James stating, “I work with Duncan, I go on holiday with Duncan, I live with Duncan.” Asked: “Do you have sex with Duncan?”, he replied: “Yeah all the time".[17]

In November 2014, Blue announced they had signed a two-album record deal with Sony Music. The band released their fifth studio album Colours on 9 March 2015.[18][19] He was in Strictly Come Dancing 2018, but went out in the third round.

On 15 February 2017, it was confirmed that Ryan had landed a role in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. He was cast as Woody Woodward, initially for a short stint between 18 April and 19 May.[20] It was later announced that Woody would be promoted to a regular role and that Ryan had signed a one-year contract with the show.[21] He later received 2017 Inside Soap Award nomination for Best Newcomer.[22] Unsure his contract would be extended, Ryan signed to play Aladdin opposite Paul Merton’s Widow Twanky in panto in Wimbledon, and was hence written out of Eastenders.[23]

In 2019 he was a candidate in the seventh season of the British reality TV-show Celebs Go Dating.[24] From September to November 2019 Lee Ryan went on a UK-Tour with the musical "Rip it Up the 70s".[25]

Personal life[]

In August 2003 Ryan was arrested and charged with driving with excess alcohol in central London.[26] In May 2004 Ryan was cleared of assaulting two photographers who had attempted to take photos of him leaving a nightclub however he was convicted of criminal damage for smashing their cameras.[27]

In August 2010 Ryan was charged with assaulting his former fiancée however these charges were officially withdrawn.[28][29]

In May 2014 Ryan pleaded guilty to criminal damage and failing to provide a specimen after being caught driving erratically in April.[30][31][32]

In 2020, on two occasions Ryan was charged with driving a Mercedes at 70mph in a 60mph limit in Peterborough, but the charges were dismissed as the prosecution offered no evidence, due to there being no means of proving who was driving. However, Ryan was later charged and found guilty at trial of two counts of failing to provide information about the driver. At a subsequent hearing, Magistrate Alison Marsh gave Ryan two lots of six points against his driving license, resulting in a disqualification from driving for 12 months. Fined £1,501 for one of the charges, Ryan, speaking via a remote link from Spain, said he was "out of work due to Covid" and "just don't have the money."[33]

When discussing sexuality and dating on Good Morning Britain in August 2019, Ryan was asked if he had dated men, to which he replied, "Yeah, I think a lot of people are a lot more liberal which is great for our society. I mean we aren't living in the Dark Ages any more and for people to have some kind of prejudice against these kinds of things is just ignorant".[34]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[35] 		BEL
[36] 		GER
[37] 		JAP
[38] 		IRE
[39] 		ITA
[40] 		SWI
[41]
Lee Ryan 6 68 79 40 42 3 61

Singles[]

As lead artist[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[35] 		AUT
[42] 		BEL
[36] 		FRA
[43] 		GER
[37] 		HUN
[44] 		IRE
[39] 		ITA
[40] 		SWI
[41] 		UKN
[45]
"Army of Lovers" 2005 3 41 25 — 29 — 17 1 49 3 Lee Ryan
"Turn Your Car Around" 12 41 2 — 52 — 33 2 — 8
"When I Think of You" 15 — — — — — 29 — — 13
"Real Love" 2006 — — 5 10 56 28 — — 74 —
"Reinforce Love" 2007 101 — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"I Am Who I Am / Secret Love" 2010 33 — — — — — — — — 9
"Ghost" [46] 2019 — — — — — — — — — —
"Mockingbirds" [47] 2020 — — — — — — — — — —
"Swayed" [48] — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artist[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[35] 		AUT
[42] 		BEL
[36] 		FRA
[43] 		GER
[37] 		HUN
[44] 		IRE
[39] 		ITA
[40] 		SWI
[41] 		UKN
[45]
"Lovers of New York" [49]
(Rubylux featuring Lee Ryan) 		2014 — — — — — — — — — — The World Goes Quiet
"He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" [50]
(Homeless Worldwide and Friends) 		2019 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Filmography[]

Film
Year Title Role Note
2006 L'era glaciale 2 – Il disgelo Eddie (voice) Italian dub version of Ice Age: The Meltdown[51]
2009 L'era glaciale 3 – L'alba dei dinosauri Eddie (voice) Italian dub version of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs[52]
2010 The Heavy Reuben
2012 L'era glaciale 4 – Continenti alla deriva Eddie (voice) Italian dub version of Ice Age: Continental Drift[53]
2016 L'era glaciale – In rotta di collisione Eddie (voice) Italian dub version of Ice Age: Collision Course[54]
Ischia Dubbing Award at the Ischia Film Festival (with Massimo Giuliani, Marco Guadagno, Pino Insegno and Filippo Timi)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Holby City Arian Kirkwall "Too Much Too Young" (Season 3, Episode 2)
2007 Hell's Kitchen Himself Contestant
2007 Most Haunted Himself Sutton House (Series 9, Episode 10)
2008 24 Hours with... Himself Television documentary; "Lee Ryan" (Season 1, Episode 3)
2014 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Contestant
2017–2018 EastEnders Harry "Woody" Woodward Regular role
2018 Strictly Come Dancing Himself Contestant
2019 Himself Contestant
Video games
Year Title Role
2006 Ice Age 2: The Meltdown Eddie (voice)

References[]

  1. ^ Denman, Amy (30 August 2020). "Lee Ryan handed driving ban after being caught speeding twice in three months". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Lee Ryan: Blue singer to face speeding charges". BBC News. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  3. ^ Blue Number Ones | Number One hits from the UK Singles Charts. Number-ones.co.uk. Retrieved on 3 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Lee Ryan's 9/11 gaffe". virginmedia.com. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  5. ^ Kalwant Bhopal; Martin Myers (2008). Insiders, Outsiders and Others: Gypsies and Identity. Univ of Hertfordshire Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-902806-71-6.
  6. ^ Clout, Laura (23 June 2008). "Blue's Lee Ryan in court for road rage attack on cabbie". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Former Blue singer guilty of cabbie assault". 23 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Blue's Lee Ryan 'making dance music'". Digital Spy. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Lee Ryan dismisses Tesco album deal – Music News. Digital Spy (5 January 2011). Retrieved on 3 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Album Review: Lee Ryan – Confessions | Prefix". Prefixmag.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  11. ^ Corner, Lewis (17 December 2012). "Blue premiere new music video 'Hurt-Lovers'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  12. ^ British Comedy Guide (31 August 2013). "Through The Keyhole Series 1, Episode 1 - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  13. ^ "'Through The Keyhole' - Hit Or Miss With New Format Of Keith Lemon Replacing Loyd Grossman AND Sir David Frost?". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  14. ^ "' EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – Lee Ryan and Jasmine Waltz dish the dirt on their 'romance'". OK Magazine. London. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  15. ^ Wilson, Jess (22 April 2014). "He definitely had gay tendencies: Jasmine Waltz opens up on Lee Ryan cheating rumours".
  16. ^ "Lee Ryan Blue house party: Cocktails, acoustic guitar and cheesy DVDs: Mirror reporter heads to Lee Ryan's for the hottest party of the year - Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  17. ^ https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/14/celebrity-big-brother-lee-ryan-duncan-james_n_4593256.html
  18. ^ "Feeling Blue no longer: Boyband set for comeback UK tour after signing megabucks Sony deal". Daily Mirror. 2 November 2014.
  19. ^ "Colours". amazon.co.uk.
  20. ^ Harp, Justin (15 February 2017). "All rise! Blue's Lee Ryan is joining the cast of EastEnders". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  21. ^ "EastEnders spoilers: Lee Ryan to return as Woody – Blue star signs new contract". Radio Times.
  22. ^ "It's time to vote in the Inside Soap Awards 2017!". Inside Soap. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  23. ^ https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/former-bad-lad-lee-ryan-20063124
  24. ^ "Celebs Go Dating series 7: the OFFICIAL line-up of celebrities is here". Heart. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Rip It Up The Show". Ripituptheshow.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Blue singer faces drink-drive charge". Irish Examiner. 12 August 2003. Retrieved 6 July 2019.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Lee Ryan cleared of assault". Evening Standard. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Singer Lee Ryan charged with attack on fiancee". The Independent. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Lee Ryan assault charge dropped". BBC News. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Boy Band Singer Lee Ryan In Drug Arrest". Sky News. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Blue star Lee Ryan swore at police and urinated in cell". BBC News. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Lee Ryan's family are said to be worried about his recent arrest and erratic behaviour". Hello magazine. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Blue singer Lee Ryan tells court he cannot afford £1,500 fine". BBC News. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Demi Sims Answers Those Megan Barton-Hanson Romance Rumours | Good Morning Britain". YouTube. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c List of Lee Ryan albums and singles on UK:
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Belgium Charts > Lee Ryan". Ultratop – Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Charverfolgung / Blue / Longplay" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  38. ^ "Japan Charts – Lee Ryan: albums, DVDs and singles". Oricon. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Irish Charts > Lee Ryan". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Italian Charts > Lee Ryan". italiancharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Swiss Charts > Lee Ryan" (in German). swisscharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b "Austrian Charts > lee Ryan" (in German). austriancharts.at Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b "France Single Charts History". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b "Association of Hungarian Record Companies". Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ukrainian Chart – Lee Ryan". FDR. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  46. ^ "Ghost - Single by Lee Ryan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  47. ^ "Mockingbirds - Single by Lee Ryan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  48. ^ "Swayed - Single by Lee Ryan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  49. ^ "Lovers of New York (feat. Lee Ryan) - Single by Rubylux on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  50. ^ "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - Single by Homeless Worldwide and Friend on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  51. ^ "Lee Ryan doppiatore "italiano" per L'ERA GLACIALE 2: IL DISGELO" (in Italian). NonSoloCinema. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  52. ^ "L'ERA GLACIALE 3 – L'ALBA DEI DINOSAURI/ La cusiorità sulla pellicola con Cid e Manny in onda su Italia Uno" (in Italian). ilsussidiario.net. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  53. ^ "L'era glaciale 4: Continenti alla deriva – Marco Guadagno vota Scrat" (in Italian). movieplayer.it. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  54. ^ "L'era glaciale 5: a Ischia con Claudio Bisio e le voci italiane del film" (in Italian). movieplayer.it. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.

External links[]

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