Former EastEnders heartthrob Jack Ryder makes shock return to acting by landing role in Holby City
The actor has spent much of his time away from the spotlight working as a film and theatre director
JACK Ryder was the floppy-fringed heartthrob who gained legions of female fans on EastEnders – including his now ex-wife Kym Marsh.
The actor, who played baby-faced Jamie Mitchell on the soap, is making his first major return to TV drama by landing a role in Holby City.
He will play consultant surgeon Evan Crowhurst, whose girlfriend is doctor Chloe Godard, played by newcomer Amy Lennox. Jack joined the cast of EastEnders in 1998 as Jamie the cousin and godson of Phil Mitchell.
He left Albert Square after his character was sensationally killed off on Christmas Day 2002, when he was run over by a car driven by love rival Martin Fowler.
In the same year, Jack married Kym, who was yet to find fame playing Michelle Connor on Coronation Street and was then best known as one fifth of the Popstars band Hear'Say.
The couple divorced in 2009, around the time Jack started to turn to more directing roles.
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He has since worked on stage shows including The Full Monty as well as The Girls and The Band, both co-created by Gary Barlow.
Jack will appear in Holby next year. Executive producer Simon Harper said EastEnders fans would get “quite a surprise seeing him in this very different role”.
Let’s just hope his new character doesn’t meet the same end as Jamie.