MANY residents have come and gone from the Dales with the hopes of making a fresh start away from all the drama. Ryan Lamb joined the list of long-forgotten Emmerdale characters in 2011. But who was he and who played him on our screens?
Who was Ryan Lamb in Emmerdale?
Regular ITV viewers may recall Ryan Lamb as the son of Faye Lamb and Mark Wylde aka Daniel Lamb. Ryan never knew his father and always believed he had died before he was born, completely unaware that Daniel had actually left Faye in severe debt while she was pregnant. Both Ryan and Faye rocked up the eponymous village in early 2009, with the latter determined to get her husband back. Meanwhile, Ryan was left in the dark and had no clue about his mother's true motives for being in the Yorkshire Dales.
Ryan's Life in Emmerdale
Ryan settled down in Emmerdale, bagging a job working as a mechanic for Debbie Dingle and becoming friends with his secret half-brothers Nathan and Will and half-sister Maisie Wylde. Months after his arrival in Emmerdale, Ryan became romantically involved with Katie Sugden and after some resistance from his mother who had heard all about her explosive past, the pair went on to have a stable relationship. Initially intrigued by Ryan, Maisie was soon furious to discover Faye and Mark's relationship, fully convinced they were having an affair. Maisie was ready to accept Ryan for Katie's sake as she was one of her closest friends but when she bonded with him over Christmas shopping, both characters became too close for comfort. Unwilling to cheat on Katie, Ryan broke things off to start afresh with Maisie… but they soon found out they were half-siblings.
Ryan's Struggles and Redemption
While Ryan was ready to give his romance with Katie another shot, there was no turning back – his half-brother Nathan made sure she knew all about his relationship wit Maisie, thus forcing him to move back in with his mother. Tensions quickly began to arise between both brothers as Ryan was Mark Wylde's eldest legitimate son, making him the rightful heir to his fortune, which included his money and property. Nathan was jealous and felt threatened by Ryan but things only got worse when Mark was murdered by his second wife Natasha Wylde following the revelation of his bigamy. Mark's body was found by Sam Dingle (James Hooton) in July 2010, and Ryan was arrested
Justice and Departure
In late 2010, however, both Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and Maisie managed to intimidate Nathan into telling the truth and he revealed that Natasha had killed Mark herself. Natasha confessed to the authorities, leading to Ryan being released from prison and returning to the village. Conflict was in the air once Ryan came back to Emmerdale as he was adamant about making Nathan pay for his actions. After multiple altercations, Nathan was finally tricked into confessing his involvement in Ryan's unfair imprisonment, just as the rest of his family were getting ready to leave the Dales. With the help of businessman Declan Macey, Ryan was able to record Nathan admitting what he had done and told Maisie and Will all about his confession. The recorded admission was then used against Nathan as Ryan threatened him into staying away from both Maisie and Will. This prompted Nathan to leave Emmerdale the same day. Maisie and Will also moved away to Dartford after the former's failed engagement with Nikhil Sharma and Ryan bid them farewell.
Ryan's Departure from Emmerdale
In March 2011, Faye followed suit and left the village for San Francisco when she lost her job. Although she offered him the chance to leave with her, Ryan refused, stating that his future was in Emmerdale. But he soon changed his mind after Cain began to involve him in his criminal schemes. Ryan assessed his life in the village, deciding to leave for a fresh start despite Debbie's pleas for him to stay. Motivated by the fact he had no girlfriend or family members holding him back, Ryan got ready to leave Emmerdale in April 2011. Ryan packed his car after making peace with Cain and Andy Sugden, Katie, and Gennie Walker all came to bid him farewell. Katie Sugden was the last villager to beg him to change his mind, but Ryan stood his ground. He was last seen promising to keep in touch and nodding his remaining friends farewell while driving out of the village.
Who played Ryan Lamb in Emmerdale?
Throughout his stay in the Dales, Ryan Lamb was portrayed by actor James Sutton. Born James Cook in Birmingham, 40-year-old James studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
James Sutton's Acting Career
James began his acting career in 2006 with the role of Barry Milne in the ITV police drama Trial & Retribution. That same year, James got his big break in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as John Paul McQueen, a role he has remained committed to ever since. James joined the Emmerdale line-up during a break from the Chester-based show and also made a brief appearance in the BBC One medical drama Casualty. He eventually returned to Hollyoaks in 2012 before leaving the role again in 2017 and coming back on a permanent basis in 2019. In 2012, the TV star appeared in a string of dramas including Scott & Bailey, Holby City, and Bedlam. He was also called to take part in the Hollyoaks 2020 spin-off Hollyoaks Later. While he's mostly known for his roles on the box, James also played in Ian Salmon's play Venus Rising at the Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool in 2018 after meeting the playwright through The Anfield Wrap – a collective of podcasts he regularly contributes to.
Personal Life and future in acting
James Sutton is seemingly adamant on keeping his personal life away from the spotlight but on September 16, 2023, he confirmed his split from his wife Rachael Collin after five years of marriage. Meanwhile, Emmerdale continues to air weeknights from 7.30 pm on ITV.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/soap-opera/stacey-slater-faces-revenge-porn-nightmare-as-stalker-becomes-more-dangerous-in-eastenders/
