Ex-EastEnder Jack Ryder looks UNRECOGNISABLE but still FIT in new telly role

Jack Ryder

by closer |
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Anyone who watched EastEnders in the 90s almost DEFINITELY had a crush on Jack Ryder, AKA Jamie Mitchell.

The now 37-year-old actor was something of a heartthrob during his four-year stint on the show, and pretty much every regular viewer of the soap was left in floods of tears by his untimely death in 2002.

After his marriage to Coronation Street's Kym Marsh ended in 2008, Jack has kept something of a low profile, staying away from the small screen, and instead becoming well-known on the stage.

Jack Ryder Kym Marsh
©Jack and Kym in 2001 © Shutterstock

However, Jack's time away from our screens is coming to an end as he's just confirmed that he'll be appearing in hospital drama Holby City - and you will not BELIEVE how he looks these days.

Jack Ryder
©Jack Ryder © BBC Pictures

Wowza. 😍

Jack said: "I am delighted to be joining Holby City and look forward to working with such a talented group of people. I can’t wait to give a voice to this exciting new character and serve a show that people love."

CHECK OUT next week's EastEnders spoilers - will Phil Mitchell catch Sharon Mitchell and Keanu Taylor at it?

Gallery

EastEnders Spoilers Week 47 2018 - slider & stacked

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Bex gives Louise an idea

The week kicks off with Bex Fowler suggesting to Louise Mitchell that she should ask Keanu Baker for driving lessons but Phil's daughter shuts her down straight away.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

Later on after Louise eventually asks Keanu about driving lessons he reluctantly agrees.

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eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

Unfortunately for them they're unaware that Sharon is watching them and feeling a slight bit of jealous.

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CREDIT: BBC

A fuming Sharon watches on

Just when we thought Sharon and Keanu's affair was well and truly over it seems that next week it definitely won't be – in fact things are just getting started.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

When Sharon sees her toyboy fixing Dennis' bike she finds herself unable to resist him invites him over for lunch.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

Later on when Jean teases that Keanu and Louise fancy each other, Sharon snaps at her. Rude.

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CREDIT: BBC

Keanu confronts Sharon

It's not long before Sharon sees her step-daughter is upset but when Sharon attempts to talk to Keanu he ignores her and questions what she keeps playing games with him.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

Tension soon builds between the pair and when one thing leads to another Sharon confesses she loves him!

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Keanu and Sharon reunite

The pair soon kiss and make up and end up sleeping together…

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

While all this drama is going on, poor Louise is still upset and after Ray Kelly encourages her to talk to Keegan she invites him over to the Mitchell house – thinking Sharon is out.

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CREDIT: BBC

Things heat up for Keegan and Louise

It's not long before Keegan and Louise open up about their feelings for each other and soon one thing leads to another…

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CREDIT: BBC

Phil makes a shocking return

Panic arises at the Mitchell house when Phil makes a shocking return looking for Sharon. Unbeknownst to him, Louise and Keegan have been up to now good and Sharon and Keanu have just slept together upstairs!

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders sharon keanu louise keegan caught phil mitchell

Sharon, Keanu, Keegan and Louise all desperately try to cover their tracks – but will they manage to do it in time without Phil discovering their actions?

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Linda continues to turn her back on Mick

Meanwhile, over to the Carter household they all continue to try and make Linda visit Mick in prison and see through Stuart Highway's lies. However, she's having none of it and even refuses to take her wedding ring back from Tina.Eek!

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Later on when Stuart rocks up at The Vic, Tina confronts him and shares some harsh words. It's not long before commotion ensues and Linda takes Stuart's side instead of her own family.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Poor Whitney has to step up and stand up for Mick to the punters.

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eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Later on, Stuart tells Linda that there's still hope for her and Mick – whose side is he on?

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Just when you think there's been enough drama in the Carter family, Shirley surprises them all and returns but shortly after she discovers all the events that have unfolded she loses it with Linda. It's not long before Stuart turns up but Shirley – not one to mince her words - lashes out at him.

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eastenders linda mick stuart affair

She later pays a visit to Tina and assures her they're not going to let Mick go down without a fight. Desperate to help her son out, Shirley contacts Phil and asks him to help her convince Ritchie to represent Mick again.

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Shirley kicks Linda out the pub

Later on in the week, Shirley and Tina arrive to collect their belongings but when Shirley gets back downstairs she throws Linda's things over the back and kicks her and Stuart out.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Go Shirls!

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Linda calls the police

After staying at Stuart's house, Linda is determined to get her home back so she storms into The Vic and calls the police!

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

After the Old Bill turn up and reveal that Shirley can't kick Linda out of the pub it doesn't go down well with the Carter family and it's not long before the situation gets out of hand…

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Oh boy...

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Kat contacts Alfie

Elsewhere on the square, Kat gets back in contact with her estranged husband and is horrified when she discovers Alfie lied to her about the children.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Feeling distraught she skives her cleaning shift and The Vic and instead helps herself to alcohol.Oh Kat.

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Kat's back behind the bar

She's then caught by Linda but when Mick's wife takes pity on her they share a heart to heart and it's not long before she's asking Kat to help behind the bar.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

She's then caught by Linda but when Mick's wife takes pity on her they share a heart to heart and it's not long before she's asking Kat to help behind the bar.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders linda mick stuart affair

Unbeknownst to her, Stuart is left annoyed.

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eastenders ruby court case

Over to Ruby Allen and she hasn't had to easiest of times since returning to the square this year.

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eastenders ruby court case

Next week, Jack Branning gives her the keys to her new house.

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It's moving day for Ruby!

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eastenders ruby court case

But her mind is elsewhere when her SOIT officer arrives and tells her they've found the photo of her kissing Matt.

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eastenders ruby court case

Martin later checks in with Ruby and comforts her but is left feeling guilty when she tells him about the SOIT officer.

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eastenders ruby court case

Following his conversation with Ruby, Martin begs Kush to say he was responsible and his reluctant friend agrees to cover for him.

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eastenders ruby court case

Stacey is left gobsmacked when Ruby catches her up on the latest events and reveals she's dropping the charges.

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eastenders ruby court case

A fuming then Stacey confronts Kush about the photo but when Martin calms her down he comes cleans and admits he's responsible for handing the picture in to the police. Feeling crushed, Stacey invites Ruby round and forces her husband to tell the truth.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders ruby court case

Later on, Ruby reveals she's remembered another detail from the night of her attack.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ian signs up for the choir

Meanwhile, Kim Fox decides to join the local choir but is left upset by Ian Beale so she decides to get revenge by telling him that Mel Owen is taking part too.

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CREDIT: BBC

eastenders ian beale choir

When he rocks up at rehearsals he's disappointed that Mel is a no-show. Ian then decides to leave the choir but after Jean Slater gives him some wise words, he returns.

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eastenders ian beale choir

It looks like it's not just Ian and Kim who are joining the choir, when Honey suggest that she might ask Adam Best to join, Billy decides that he's going to become a choir member too.

Jamie Mitchell EastEnders
©BBC

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Jack will play Evan, a surgeon who is dating fellow new character Chloe Goddard, played by Amy Lennox, who will portray a doctor at another hospital.

Simon Harper, Executive Producer of Holby City and Casualty, said that they'd been trying to work Jack into the show for ages. "We’ve been talking to Jack for a while to find the right part for him on Holby and his powerful, nuanced audition for Evan blew us away.

"He’s both a household name and a superb actor, and fans who remember him as Jamie in EastEnders are in for a big treat and quite a surprise seeing him in this very different role. Evan is a complex, alpha surgeon who makes some major waves in Holby."

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