Lee Ryan
Background information
Born	(1983-06-17) 17 June 1983 (age 29)
Origin	Chatham, Kent, England
Genres	Pop, soul
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Sony BMG, Tale Tale, Geffen
Associated acts	Blue

Lee Ryan (born 17 June 1983) is an English singer-songwriter, actor and member of the British boy band Blue.

Early life[link]

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. At the age of 5 it was discovered that he suffered from dyslexia. Ryan attended performing arts schools, including the independent fee-paying theatre schools Sylvia Young Theatre School and Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Music career[link]

Blue[link]

Ryan is a member of boy band Blue along with Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa. They have 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.^[1] Ryan has had three number one hits while with Blue.^[2] He had previously co-directed the video for Blue's single "Breathe Easy" which he also wrote and which was shoot in Prague – Czech republic capital city.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on New York city, the group was being interviewed on BBC and, in the midst of it, 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 band tried to silence him but Ryan went on.^[3]

In April 2009, the group reunited and a Best of Blue Tour was announced. Ryan announced in January 2011 that he was working on an album with Blue to be released later in the year.^[4] Blue represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song "I Can", placing 11th overall.

Solo career[link]

Ryan released his first single "Army of Lovers" on 18 July 2005. It debuted at #3 in the UK Singles Chart and hit #1 in Italy. On 1 August 2005, Ryan released his debut album, Lee Ryan, to mixed reviews. The album reached #6 in the UK Album Chart and #3 in Italy. In January 2006, Ryan released his third and final single in the UK "When I Think of You". The song reached #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. 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.

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.^[5] 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 only managed to peak at #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.^[4]

He appeared in the video for the latest single by a British girlband named Fe-Nix.

Television and theatre[link]

In September 2007, he appeared as one of the contestants in Hell's Kitchen. However he had a row with Marco Pierre White about White's use of the term "pikey", and was fired from the show. In August and September 2008, Ryan also acted alongside Natalie Casey in The Pretender Agenda at The New Players Theatre in London.

It has been reported that Lee Ryan was dropped from the Celebrity Big Brother lineup in January 2012, after he demanded too much cash from bosses. ^[6]

Personal life[link]

Just after the September 11 Attacks, Ryan roused controversy by claiming whaling and elephant hunting were "more important" issues. The interview ran as follows:
Lee Ryan: What about whales? They are ignoring animals that are more important. Animals need saving and that's more important. This New York thing is being blown out of proportion.
Simon Webbe: Shut up Lee.
Lee Ryan: Who gives a fuck about New York when elephants are being killed?
Duncan James: Shut up.
Lee Ryan: I'm not afraid to say this, it has to be said and that's why I'm the outspoken one from the band.^[7]

On 31 December 2007, he was arrested for an assault on a taxi driver in Oxted, Surrey. He was released on bail until February 2008.^[8] At Guildford Magistrates' Court on 24 June 2008 he was fined £300. He claimed in court "he felt targeted because he is 'famous' ".^[9]

In June 2008, Ryan announced he was engaged to Samantha Miller, a twenty five year old hairdresser, having met on Myspace. Miller and Ryan share a son, Rayn Ryan, who was born later that year on 30 November 2008.

In an interview with the New! magazine on 27 April 2010, Ryan confessed he had threesomes with his bandmate Duncan James, while answering the question about James bisexuality.^[10] In that same interview, he tells about his daughter Bluebell, from another woman.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

Filmography[link]

• The Heavy (2008)

Television appearances[link]

• Most Haunted – Guest appearance at the Sutton House in 2007
• 24 Hours with... (2008) – 24 Hours with Lee Ryan
• Holby City (12 October 2000) – Guest appearance
• Come Dine With Me (2008)
• MTV Base coverage of Ice Age: The Meltdown Premiere featuring cousin Nicholas Hughes.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lee Ryan

• Unreality TV – Lee Ryan News, Gossip and Chat