Lee Ryan to return to EastEnders for at least a year

Last week, we saw Danny Dyer make an explosive return to EastEnders following his brief break from the BBC One show to exhaustion and stress.

His onscreen counterpart wasted no time in getting down to business, kicking Lee Ryan’s Harry ‘Woody’ Woodward out of the Queen Vic after finding him in bed with his daughter-in-law Whitney Dean.

We haven’t seen Woody since his unceremonious departure from the pub, but it has now been confirmed that he will be returning to our screens – with Blue singer Lee asked to join the show permanently for at least one year.

Speaking to The Mirror, an excited Lee explained: “I am delighted that ‘EastEnders’ have asked me to come back.

“It was a dream come true when I landed the role so I am thrilled that this has now turned into something much bigger.

“It has been a surreal experience walking down the road and having people shouting ‘Woody’ at me but I cannot wait to get back in the Square to see what trouble he will cause this time round.”

Lee first appeared on our screens as Woody last month as a lovable rouge who Linda Carter had drafted in to help run the pub in her and her husband’s absence.

Although he was only around for a couple of weeks, Woody caused his fair share of mayhem – firing long-term barmaid Tracey and bedding both Tina Carter and Whitney as well as falling out with the Carters’ youngest son, Johnny.

Confirmation of Woody’s impending return comes after EastEnders’ executive producer, Sean O’Connor, teased that the soap will be attempting a “crazily ambitious” storyline involving the entire main cast later in the year.

Although he remained tight-lipped on exactly what will happen, Sean did claim that it was something no soap had ever attempted before, leaving us all suitably intrigued.

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