Lee Ryan (born June 17, 1983) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, and voice actor. He became widely known as a member of the pop group Blue, whose polished blend of contemporary pop, R&B, and balladry made them one of the most successful British vocal groups of the early 2000s.
Ryan was born in Chatham, Kent, and trained at performing arts institutions including the Sylvia Young Theatre School and Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He met Antony Costa while auditioning for a boy band in 1999. Alongside Costa, Duncan James, and Simon Webbe, he formed Blue, a group that quickly developed a strong profile in the United Kingdom and across Europe.
Blue's debut album, All Rise, was released in 2001 and established the group's characteristic combination of romantic ballads and upbeat pop. The album reached number one in the United Kingdom and produced several successful singles, including "All Rise," "Too Close," and "If You Come Back." Their second album, One Love (2002), continued that momentum with songs such as "One Love" and "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," a collaboration with Elton John. Ryan was particularly prominent as a vocalist and songwriter within the group, and he co-wrote "Breathe Easy," one of Blue's more mature and internationally recognized songs.
Blue's third studio album, Guilty (2003), also topped the UK Albums Chart. The group subsequently released a greatest-hits collection before initially separating. Their first period of activity established Ryan as one of the more recognizable voices in the British boy-band wave of the early 2000s, while also giving him experience as a writer and performer beyond the standard frontman role.
Ryan began his solo career in 2005 with "Army of Lovers." The single reached number three in the United Kingdom and performed particularly strongly in Italy, where it topped the singles chart. His self-titled debut album, Lee Ryan, followed that August. It reached number six in the UK and number three in Italy. The album also produced "Turn Your Car Around" and "When I Think of You." Although a planned second solo album did not materialize, Ryan continued to release occasional singles, including the charity track "Reinforce Love."
His connection with film developed through music and voice work. "Real Love," from his solo album, was associated with Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Ryan provided the Italian voice for Eddie in the film. He later expanded his screen career with television and stage appearances. In 2007 he appeared as a contestant on Hell's Kitchen, and in 2008 he performed in the London stage production The Pretender Agenda. From 2017 to 2018, he played Woody Woodward in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.
Blue reunited for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, representing the United Kingdom with "I Can." The group later resumed recording and touring, releasing albums including Roulette (2013), Colours (2015), and Heart & Soul (2022). In 2026, Blue's official discography listed Reflections, underscoring the group's continuing role in Ryan's career. His work is therefore defined by a combination of boy-band success, songwriting, solo pop, acting, and sustained involvement with one of Britain's most commercially successful vocal groups.