Ryan Malloy is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Neil McDermott.

Ryan first appears on screen on 28 April 2009 (credited as "Man") when he is seen in the park by Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and Shirley Carter (Linda Henry).

Weeks later, he helps Whitney and others escape from a fire started in the café by Nick Cotton (John Altman).

Planning to leave Walford, Ryan spots Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Janus) and asks Whitney about her.

Ryan then indulges in petty crime, including stealing from Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) café and fish and chip shop.

She reveals the plans to Ryan, and the pair plot to ultimately take the pub for themselves, double-crossing Archie in the process.

When Janine is arrested after police find Archie's mother's engagement ring in her flat, Ryan protests that she has been set up.

However, he decides to end the plan when he tells Janine they should admit their true feelings to each other, and says he is in love with her even though she is the most horrendous human being he has ever known.

The next day, Ryan packs his bags but Janine tries to tell him he can't leave as he owes six weeks' rent.

Janine's brother Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) throws Ryan a stag party where they get drunk and bond.

They then attend their reception at The Vic, where Stacey attempts to tell Ryan about his paternity to her daughter, Lily Slater.

When they return, Stacey tells Max Branning (Jake Wood) that Ryan is Lily's father and has been acting like he does not care.

Ryan hears Lily in the back of the car and orders Janine to stop but she says she is planning on going to France and never returning.

They argue and eventually she stops on a level crossing, refusing to start the car until Ryan admits he cares more about Stacey.

She fears she has lost him until she discovers Stacey was Archie's real killer after receiving a taped confession from Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).

When Ryan returns, he is horrified to discover that Whitney has been sexually exploited by Rob Grayson (Jody Latham).

The next day, the police pull Rob's body from the sea and Whitney thinks Ryan might be dead until he appears.

Having killed Rob during the fight, realising Whitney has told the police the entire story and fearing he will go to prison, Ryan insists that he has to leave, so they say an emotional goodbye and he goes on the run.

Two years later in 2016, Whitney contacts Ryan to inform him that Stacey has been sectioned at the hospital after suffering from postpartum psychosis.

The following day, Ryan is determined to be a father figure in Lily's life, however Whitney desperately tries to persuade him not to tell her.

Lee and Nancy's father, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) accompanies Whitney and assures a scared Ryan that he can trust him.

He explains that he has been released due to a lack of evidence and also reveals he is now in a relationship with a prison officer named Helen.

Off-screen Ryan manages to patch things up with Lily and invites her to spend Christmas 2023 with him and Helen so that he can meet his granddaughter Charli Slater.

However Kat puts a spanner in the works by setting her wedding to Phil to coincide with the Christmas period and asking Lily to be her bridesmaid.

[5] Santer then described the character as "intriguing and complex", adding, "While incognito, he made a big impression on EastEnders viewers.

"[8] He has been compared to the character of Sean Slater, who was played by Robert Kazinsky, as their scenario and personalities are similar in certain ways.

[6] McDermott commented that he sees the character as having a big heart, but scared to show his emotions, saying, "That's where his aggression comes from — he doesn't want to get hurt.

[8] Another scene features McDermott barechested, which prompted him to attend a gym: "I opened up a script after not being here very long and I just thought 'ah ok...

[13] In January 2016, Ryan returned as part of Stacey Branning's (Lacey Turner) postpartum psychosis storyline.

Ryan made another to Albert Square in the episode broadcast on 20 September 2016 to surprise Whitney following his early release from prison.