Jailed EastEnders badboy Ryan Malloy to make gripping comeback and unleash fresh drama on Walford
Neil McDermott will reprise his role as hunk Ryan for an emotional reunion with half-sister Whitney Dean
BEING banged up isn’t enough to keep EastEnders badboy Ryan Malloy out of trouble.
I can reveal he is set to make a gripping comeback in September and unleash fresh drama on Walford from behind bars.
NEIL McDERMOTT will reprise his role as hunk Ryan for an emotional reunion with half-sister Whitney Dean, who is headed for heartache after finding out fiancée Lee Carter cheated with pal Abi Branning, played by LORNA FITZGERALD.
An Albert Square insider said: “Ryan is never far from Whitney’s mind and she has always stayed in touch as much as possible.
“Although Ryan will only be appearing in a couple of episodes it’s fair to say that when he’s around drama usually follows.”
Neil has started filming the top-secret scenes as Ryan — who is the estranged father of Stacey Branning’s daughter Lily — and spent three hours with the cast at the BBC’s Elstree studios in London last Wednesday.
It comes after his surprise stint in January saw him finally hand himself in to police after going on the run in 2011.
The urge to protect Whitney saw him get into a brawl, during which he accidentally killed pimp Rob Grayson.
Meanwhile, Whitney will discover she has contracted chlamydia while expecting Lee’s baby.
The new twist, set to air on July 29, will test her relationship with Lee who will be forced to confess he cheated on her with Abi.
It was previously revealed that Abi picked up the sexually transmitted infection from her then boyfriend Ben Mitchell, played by HARRY REID, before she had a one-night stand with Lee.
Ryan’s brotherly duties will be needed more than ever.
TAMZIN EYEING 'ENDERS RETURN
IT'S been all about old faces returning to EastEnders lately.
ROSS KEMP came back as Grant Mitchell, and even DANNIELLA WESTBROOK as his sister Sam.
Now another Walford veteran, TAMZIN OUTHWAITE, has revealed she fancies a comeback, reprising her role as Mel Owen.
But she fears BBC bosses would not be able to write her back in, as she doesn’t have any on-screen family left in the soap.
Speaking of a possible EastEnders return, Tamzin said: “It’s a weird myth that I’m turning them down.
“I’d definitely think about it but I’ve never been asked.
“I’m not sure if my character has reason to go back, though, as she’s got no family there.
“But I had a lovely time doing EastEnders.
“It’s just not something I’ve had to think about since.”
She might have more luck when executive producer DOMINIC TREADWELL-COLLINS is replaced later this year by SEAN O’CONNOR.
The pair worked together more than a decade ago on the soap when Sean penned some of its most famous storylines.
Fingers crossed he’s got something up his sleeve.
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REMAKING A MURDER
THE story of convicted killer Steven Avery isn’t over just yet.
The producers of the gripping Netflix true crime documentary MAKING A MURDERER have confirmed it will be returning for a second season.
The new series will take viewers back inside Steven and his co-defendant Brendan Dassey’s story as their respective legal teams challenge their existing convictions.
The next chapter is set to be even more divisive than the last as show bosses promise an in-depth look at the post-conviction process.
Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos are once again at the helm of the project.
The creators said: “The viewers’ interest and attention has ensured that the story is not over, and we are fully committed to continuing to document events as they unfold.”
I hope they’re continuing this programme because there’s more to say, and not just for the inevitable viewing figures that will follow.
ONE LES-S IN CORRIE
LES DENNIS is to leave Coronation Street and he’s promising a dramatic exit.
The former Family Fortunes host, who plays burglar-turned-taxi driver Michael Rodwell, is quitting the ITV soap at the end of the year.
The news comes just a day after I revealed how the cobbles will be rocked by a huge explosion and fireball with at least one character meeting a fiery end.
It now begs the question whether Les – who joined Corrie in January 2014 – will be caught up in that drama or whether the “very dramatic” storyline he promised yesterday is something entirely different.
Knocked off
Les, whose character hooked up with both Gail Rodwell, played by HELEN WORTH and Eileen Grimshaw (SUE CLEAVER) said: “As a lifelong fan of the show, playing Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street has been a dream come true.
“I always knew that the time would come when I would want the freedom to do more projects and now feels like the right time.
“The talented team of writers and producers have come up with a very dramatic exit for Michael on the show which will be exciting to film.”
He is the latest character to be knocked off after Kylie Platt, played by PAULA LANE, was stabbed in the street last week.
Frankly, no one is safe.
NORT-Y GIRL
JAMES NORTON may have made life a misery for everyone in BBC1’s Happy Valley as Tommy Lee Royce but it hasn’t put off CAROL VORDERMAN.
The presenter says the hunky actor, currently a frontrunner to replace DANIEL CRAIG as James Bond – and seen stripping off in a less glamorous role in 2014 flick Bonobo – is her celebrity crush.
This is despite a giant 24-year age gap between them.
The former Countdown numbers whizz said: “I’ve never had a crush on anybody famous until this year.
“And it’s James Norton.
“I’ve never even dated anybody who’s on the telly.
“Sadly he’s like 74 years younger than me – but that doesn’t matter!”
And I thought Carol was good at maths.
JAMES MARTIN COOKS UP A STORM ON THIS MORNING
JAMES MARTIN’s days of getting up early didn’t stop when he packed in Saturday Kitchen after ten years as host.
The telly chef is to stand in for EAMONN HOLMES and RUTH LANGSFORD on This Morning on Fridays alongside Countryfile host ANITA RANI.
Eamonn and his wife Ruth are filling in Monday to Thursday for regulars HOLLY WILLOUGHBY and PHILLIP SCHOFIELD, who are on their summer holidays.
On their first show together, James and Anita will be speaking with BRENDAN O’CARROLL, the creator and star of Mrs Brown’s Boys.
And James already has two A-list interviews in the bag after he sat down with the stars of the new Bourne film, MATT DAMON and ALICIA VIKANDER, which will be aired on July 27.
James won’t just be hosting the ITV show, he will also show viewers his veg patch and cook two summer dishes.
You can take the man out of the kitchen . . .