Wikipedia

Lee Ryan

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

Lee Ryan
Ryan in 2011
Ryan in 2011
Background information
Born(1983-06-17)17 June 1983(age 41)
Chatham, Kent,England
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • voice actor
Years active2000–present
LabelsSony BMG

Early life

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Lee Ryan was born inChatham, 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 schoolsSylvia Young Theatre SchoolandItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Career

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2000–2005: Career with Blue

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Ryan is a member of boy bandBluealong withSimon Webbe,Duncan JamesandAntony Costa.The group has sold over 14 million records worldwide. In August 2005, Blue split up to pursue solo careers under the advice ofSir Elton John.Blue reformed on 28 April 2009.

Ryan has had three number one hits while with Blue.[1]He had previously co-directed the video for Blue's single "Breathe Easy", which he also wrote and which was shot inPrague.In 2001 the group were in New York during theSeptember 11 attacksafter 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. Lee wasgungedduring an episode ofLive & Kickingin August 2001 as part of the Stop The Snot segment.[2]

2005–2008:Lee Ryanand stage

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Ryan in 2006

Ryan released his first single "Army of Lovers"in July 2005. It debuted at No. 3 in theUK Singles Chartand hit No. 1 in Italy. In August 2005, Ryan released his debut album,Lee Ryan,to mixed reviews. The album reached No. 6 in theUK Albums Chartand 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 filmIce Age: The Meltdownwhich later led to Ryan voicing the part of an elk in the UK version of the film andEddiein the Italian version. In late 2005,Dolce & Gabbanasigned 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 in December 2007. The single was being released forGreat Ormond Street HospitalandCLIC 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 inHell's Kitchen.However he rowed withMarco Pierre Whiteabout White's use of the term "pikey",and subsequently left the show.[3]In August and September 2008, Ryan acted alongsideNatalie CaseyinThe Pretender Agendaat 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.[4][5]

2009–2010: Film and cancelled second album

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In March 2010, Ryan confirmed that he had signed a new record deal withGeffen 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.[6]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 theUK Singles Chart.Following this, it was announced thatGeffenwere 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.[7]

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".[8]

2011–2019: Blue return,EastEndersandRip it Up

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Ryan (right) performing with Blue

Ryan stated in January 2011 that he was working on an album with Blue to be released later in the year.[7]Blue represented the United Kingdom at theEurovision Song Contest 2011in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song "I Can",placing 11th overall.

In 2013, Blue released "Hurt Lovers"the first single from their fourth albumRoulette.[9]

In August 2013, Ryan and Duncan James appeared in an episode of comedy panel showThrough the Keyholein which the host showed around their home in London.[10][11]

Ryan appeared inCelebrity Big Brother 13in 2014. Following the show he entered a relationship with fellowBig BrotherparticipantJasmine Waltz.[12]Waltz split with Ryan a few weeks later claiming on Twitter that Ryan had cheated on her with a man.[13]Ryan came out as bisexual during his time onBig 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."[14]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".[15]

In November 2014, Blue announced they had signed a two-album record deal withSony Music.The band released their fifth studio albumColourson 9 March 2015.[16][17]He was inStrictly Come Dancing 2018,but went out in the third round.

On 15 February 2017, it was confirmed that Ryan had landed a role in theBBCsoap opera,EastEnders.He was cast asWoody Woodward,initially for a short stint between 18 April and 19 May.[18]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.[19]He later received2017Inside SoapAwardnomination for Best Newcomer.[20]Unsure his contract would be extended, Ryan signed to playAladdinoppositePaul Merton's Widow Twanky in panto inWimbledon,and was hence written out ofEastEnders.[21]

In 2019, he was a candidate in the seventh season of the British reality TV-showCelebs Go Dating.[22]From September to November 2019 Lee Ryan went on a UK-Tour with the musical "Rip it Up the 70s".[23]

2021–present: Blue 20th anniversary

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On 30 November 2021, the group confirmed they would be going on an arena tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary, it was also confirmed thatAtomic Kittenwould be supporting them on the tour. When interviewed onThis Morningthe group also confirmed that they were back in the studio recording, a new album is expected to follow along with the tour.

On 11 April 2022, the group announced that their sixth studio albumHeart & Soulwould be released on 9 September 2022. On 20 May, the group unveiled the track listing for the album on their social media accounts, following with first single "Haven't Found You Yet".[24][25]On 29 June 2022,[26][non-primary source needed][27]the group released the single "Dance with Me",a cover of the 2001112single.[28]

Personal life

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Since starting his career on Blue, Ryan has been in relationships with some famous female celebrities. Between 2003 and 2004 he was engaged toAtomic KittenmemberLiz McClarnon.[29]He also been in short-lived relationships with his fellowCelebrity Big BrothercontestantsCasey BatchelorandJasmine Waltz,and has also been linked to Stephanie Saunders, Emily Oldfield andAlicia Douvall.[29]

In 2023, Ryan revealed he is going to be a dad for the fifth time with his wife Verity Paris.[30]He already shares a two-year-old and a one-year-old daughter with Paris. He is also a father to daughter Bluebell, with ex Jessica Keevil, and shares son Rayn with former partner Samantha Miller, who was born in 2008.[30]

In 2014 Ryan revealed that he had a regular sexual relationship with his bandmateDuncan Jamesduring Blue's early years.[31][32]Ryan defined himself asbisexualin an interview onGood Morning Britainin August 2019: "For people to have some kind of prejudice against these kinds of things is just ignorant".[33]

Ryan has been diagnosed withdyslexia,[34]attention deficit hyperactivity disorderandAsperger syndrome.[35]

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In August 2003, Ryan was arrested and charged with driving with excess alcohol in central London.[36][37][38][39]In May 2014, Ryan pleaded guilty to criminal damage and failing to provide a specimen after being caught driving erratically in April.[40][41][42]On two occasions in 2020, Ryan was charged with driving a Mercedes at 70 mph in a 60 mph limit inPeterborough,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 licence, resulting in a disqualification from driving for 12 months.[43]

In January 2023, Ryan was convicted of four charges at Ealing Magistrates court. He had been found guilty of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer and behaving in an abusive way towards a crew member, as well as a racially aggravated assault of a flight cabin crew member, which happened atLondon City Airporton 31 July 2022.[44]In September 2023, Ryan was given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to one party, £750 to another, plus £510 in court costs.[45][46][47]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[48] 		BEL
[49] 		GER
[50] 		JAP
[51] 		IRE
[52] 		ITA
[53] 		SWI
[54]
Lee Ryan
  • Released: 1 August 2005
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Labels:Sony BMG
 6 68 79 40 42 3 61

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[48] 		AUT
[55] 		BEL
[49] 		FRA
[56] 		GER
[50] 		HUN
[57] 		IRE
[52] 		ITA
[53] 		SCO
[58] 		SWI
[54]
"Army of Lovers" 2005 3 41 25 — 29 — 17 1 1 49 Lee Ryan
"Turn Your Car Around" 12 41 2 — 52 — 33 2 10 —
"When I Think of You" 2006 15 — — — — — 29 — 11 —
"Real Love" — — 5 10 56 28 — — — 74
"I Am Who I Am / Secret Love" 2010 33 — — — — — — — 49 — Non-album single
"Daydreamer" 2024 Lee Ryan
"In the morning"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
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Title Year Album
"Lovers of New York"[59]
(Rubylux featuring Lee Ryan) 		2014 The World Goes Quiet
"He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother"[60]
(Homeless Worldwide and Friends featuring Lee Ryan) 		2019 Non-album single

Promotional singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[48]
"Reinforce Love" 2007 101 Non-album singles
"Ghost"[61] 2019 —
"Mockingbirds"[62] 2020 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Note
2006 Ice Age: The Meltdown Eddie(voice) Italian dub[63][64]
2009 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
2010 The Heavy Reuben
2012 Ice Age: Continental Drift Eddie (voice) Italian dub[65][66]
Ischia Dubbing Award at theIschia Global Film & Music Festival
2016 Ice Age: Collision Course

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Holby City Arian Kirkwall Episode: "Too Much Too Young"
2007 Most Haunted Himself Episode: "Sutton House"
2007 Hell's Kitchen Contestant
2014 Celebrity Big Brother Contestant Series 13
2017–2018 EastEnders Harry "Woody" Woodward Main role
2018 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Series 16
2019 Celebs Go Dating Himself Episode: "Lee Ryan"

Video games

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Year Title Role
2006 Ice Age 2: The Meltdown Eddie (voice)

References

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  1. ^Blue Number Ones | Number One hits from the UK Singles Charts.Number-ones.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  2. ^"Lee Ryan's 9/11 gaffe".virginmedia.com.Retrieved3 December2011.
  3. ^Kalwant Bhopal;Martin Myers (2008).Insiders, Outsiders and Others: Gypsies and Identity.Univ of Hertfordshire Press. p. 207.ISBN978-1-902806-71-6.
  4. ^Clout, Laura (23 June 2008)."Blue's Lee Ryan in court for road rage attack on cabbie".The Telegraph.Retrieved6 July2019.
  5. ^"Former Blue singer guilty of cabbie assault".23 June 2008.Retrieved6 July2019.
  6. ^"Blue's Lee Ryan 'making dance music'".Digital Spy.21 March 2010.Retrieved21 March2010.
  7. ^abLee Ryan dismisses Tesco album deal – Music News.Digital Spy (5 January 2011). Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  8. ^"Album Review: Lee Ryan – Confessions | Prefix".Prefixmag.com. Archived fromthe originalon 10 January 2014.Retrieved29 March2013.
  9. ^Corner, Lewis (17 December 2012)."Blue premiere new music video 'Hurt-Lovers'".Digital Spy.Retrieved21 January2013.
  10. ^British Comedy Guide (31 August 2013)."Through The Keyhole Series 1, Episode 1 - British Comedy Guide".Comedy.co.uk.Retrieved14 May2018.
  11. ^"'Through The Keyhole' - Hit Or Miss With New Format Of Keith Lemon Replacing Loyd Grossman AND Sir David Frost? ".HuffPost.2 September 2013.Retrieved14 May2018.
  12. ^"' EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – Lee Ryan and Jasmine Waltz dish the dirt on their 'romance'".OK!.London. 2 March 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 25 December 2014.Retrieved16 September2014.
  13. ^Wilson, Jess (22 April 2014)."He definitely had gay tendencies:Jasmine Waltz opens up on Lee Ryan cheating rumours ".Daily Mirror.
  14. ^"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".Daily Mirror.31 December 2017.Retrieved14 May2018.
  15. ^"'Celebrity Big Brother' Star Lee Ryan Says He Sleeps With His Blue Bandmate Duncan James 'All The Time' | HuffPost UK Entertainment ".HuffPost.14 January 2014.Retrieved12 April2022.
  16. ^"Feeling Blue no longer: Boyband set for comeback UK tour after signing megabucks Sony deal".Daily Mirror.2 November 2014.
  17. ^"Colours".Amazon.com. 2015.
  18. ^Harp, Justin (15 February 2017)."All rise! Blue's Lee Ryan is joining the cast of EastEnders".Digital Spy.Retrieved16 February2017.
  19. ^"EastEnders spoilers: Lee Ryan to return as Woody – Blue star signs new contract".Radio Times.
  20. ^"It's time to vote in theInside SoapAwards 2017! ".Inside Soap.22 August 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 25 August 2017.Retrieved25 August2017.
  21. ^"Former bad lad Lee Ryan says panto role ruined his EastEnders career - Mirror Online".Daily Mirror.14 September 2019.
  22. ^"Celebs Go Dating series 7: the OFFICIAL line-up of celebrities is here".Heart.29 May 2019.Retrieved20 June2019.
  23. ^"Rip It Up The Show".Ripituptheshow.com.Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2019.Retrieved20 June2019.
  24. ^Hulton, Anna Sky (24 May 2022)."Blue release 'Haven't Found You Yet' along with the music video".Planet Radio.Retrieved3 July2022.
  25. ^Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (26 May 2022)."Blue Debut New Single" Haven't Found You Yet "".Entertainment Focus.Retrieved3 July2022.
  26. ^"Here we go!" Dance With Me "is out NOW. Stream it, share it and DANCE to it here".29 July 2022.Retrieved3 July2022.
  27. ^"Blue return with latest track 'Dance With Me' from comeback album 'Heart and Soul'".Retro Pop Magazine.29 June 2022.Retrieved3 July2022.
  28. ^"BLUE DROP R&B THROWBACK WITH COVER OF 112'S 'DANCE WITH ME', READY 'HEART & SOUL' ALBUM FOR SEPTEMBER".Culturefix.co.uk.29 June 2022.Retrieved3 July2022.
  29. ^abGriffiths, Emmy (6 October 2018)."Strictly's Lee Ryan: Who is his girlfriend and who has he dated?".Hello!.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2018.Retrieved3 March2024.
  30. ^abCampbell, Tina (18 September 2023)."Blue star Lee Ryan announces he is going to be a dad for fifth time".Evening Standard.Archivedfrom the original on 29 October 2023.Retrieved3 March2024.
  31. ^"Celebrity Big Brother player Lee Ryan's same sex fun was with Blue's Duncan James".Irish Mirror.12 January 2014.Retrieved22 August2023.
  32. ^"'Celebrity Big Brother' Star Lee Ryan Says He Sleeps With His Blue Bandmate Duncan James 'All The Time'".HuffPost.14 January 2014.Retrieved22 August2023.
  33. ^"Demi Sims Answers Those Megan Barton-Hanson Romance Rumours | Good Morning Britain".14 August 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2021.Retrieved20 May2020– via YouTube.
  34. ^"EQ interview with Lee Ryan–" The Great Thing About Being Dyslexic Is That We Articulate Ourselves In Different Ways. "".EQ Music.2 May 2010.Retrieved12 February2024.
  35. ^Draper, Joseph (13 June 2023)."Blue singer Lee Ryan wins bid to withdraw guilty plea for 'assaulting officer'".The Independent.Retrieved5 November2023.
  36. ^"Blue singer faces drink-drive charge".Irish Examiner.12 August 2003.Retrieved6 July2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  37. ^"Lee Ryan cleared of assault".Evening Standard.13 May 2004.Retrieved6 July2019.
  38. ^"Singer Lee Ryan charged with attack on fiancee".The Independent.20 August 2010.Retrieved6 July2019.
  39. ^"Lee Ryan assault charge dropped".BBC News.27 August 2010.Retrieved6 July2019.
  40. ^"Boy Band Singer Lee Ryan In Drug Arrest".Sky News.Retrieved6 July2019.
  41. ^"Blue star Lee Ryan swore at police and urinated in cell".BBC News.5 February 2014.Retrieved6 July2019.
  42. ^"Lee Ryan's family are said to be worried about his recent arrest and erratic behaviour".Hello!.Retrieved6 July2019.
  43. ^"Blue singer Lee Ryan tells court he cannot afford £1,500 fine".BBC News.19 August 2021.Retrieved19 August2021.
  44. ^"Blue singer Lee Ryan guilty of racially aggravated assault".BBC News.12 January 2023.Retrieved12 January2023.
  45. ^Lithgow, George (28 September 2023)."Blue Star Lee Ryan handed suspended sentence for abusing cabin crew".Evening Standard.Retrieved28 September2023.
  46. ^McShane, Asher (28 September 2023)."Blue singer Lee Ryan avoids jail for racially abusing BA cabin crew while drunk on flight".LBC.Retrieved28 September2023.
  47. ^"Blue star Lee Ryan given suspended jail term for BA cabin crew abuse".BBC News.28 September 2023.Retrieved28 September2023.
  48. ^abcList of Lee Ryan albums and singles on UK:
  49. ^ab"Belgium Charts > Lee Ryan".Ultratop – Hung Medien.Retrieved25 April2010.
  50. ^ab"Charverfolgung / Blue / Longplay"(in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2012.Retrieved29 May2011.
  51. ^"Japan Charts – Lee Ryan: albums, DVDs and singles".Oricon.Retrieved2 December2010.
  52. ^ab"Irish Charts > Lee Ryan".irish-charts.com. Hung Medien.Retrieved25 April2010.
  53. ^ab"Italian Charts > Lee Ryan".italiancharts.com Hung Medien.Retrieved25 April2010.
  54. ^ab"Swiss Charts > Lee Ryan"(in German). swisscharts.com Hung Medien.Retrieved29 May2011.
  55. ^"Austrian Charts > lee Ryan"(in German). austriancharts.at Hung Medien.Retrieved25 April2010.
  56. ^"France Single Charts History".Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.Retrieved21 September2011.
  57. ^"Association of Hungarian Record Companies".Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Archived fromthe originalon 15 November 2014.Retrieved23 August2012.
  58. ^
  59. ^"Lovers of New York (feat. Lee Ryan) - Single by Rubylux on Apple Music".Apple Music.Retrieved14 September2014.
  60. ^"He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - Single by Homeless Worldwide and Friend on Apple Music".Apple Music.Retrieved15 February2019.
  61. ^"Ghost - Single by Lee Ryan on Apple Music".Apple Music.Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2021.Retrieved4 October2019.
  62. ^"Mockingbirds - Single by Lee Ryan on Apple Music".Apple Music.Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2021.Retrieved1 May2020.
  63. ^"Lee Ryan doppiatore" italiano "per L'ERA GLACIALE 2: IL DISGELO"(in Italian). NonSoloCinema. 7 April 2006.Retrieved16 February2017.
  64. ^"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. Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2017.Retrieved16 February2017.
  65. ^"L'era glaciale 4: Continenti alla deriva – Marco Guadagno vota Scrat"(in Italian). movieplayer.it. 25 September 2012.Retrieved16 February2017.
  66. ^"L'era glaciale 5: a Ischia con Claudio Bisio e le voci italiane del film"(in Italian). movieplayer.it. 18 July 2016.Retrieved16 February2017.
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