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very lively and we’d be in shops and I’d be running all over the place causing havoc. She’d have to spend ages looking for me while trying to do her shopping at the same. I was quite a handful and very cheeky, she’d have to have eyes in the back of her head to keep me in check. ‘My earliest memory is probably when I was in my pram, and I also remember learning to ride a bike clearly. I think I must have been about four. I was pretty good actually, and I didn’t fall off too many times. Although I do remember crashing into a wall once though when I’d just learnt, which wasnt much fun.’

Lee admits his school days weren’t his happiest, especially as he didn’t always get the help he needed for his dyslexia. ‘When I was at school I used to rebel quite a lot when the teachers asked me to do things. I’m dyslexic and I found some subjects frustrating so I used to get bored and mess about. It was fine in my junior school because I got more attention and the teachers really helped me with my reading and everything. But when I went to secondary school it was a lot harder and I don’t think I got much help as I could of done. I suppose in the end because I fell behind I used to mess about because I was bored. ‘I only really liked English and music at school, I wasn’t that into the other subjects. Shakespeare was my favourite thing and I always got really into it when I studied him in class. I think hes amazing. ‘I went to a lot of different schools because I got chucked out of a few, so it was sometimes hard to make new friends because I didnt know people for long. It was weird time for me, I think because I moved around a lot I didnt feel like I fitted in anywhere. But I did make some really good mates in the end, and I’m still friends with them now. ‘I went through a lot during my early school days and I didn’t have the best time, but I came through it and I wouldn’t change things because I learnt a lot from it. ‘It was only when Lee went to drama school aged 13 that things really started to take off for him and he felt more settled. ‘I really enjoyed drama school because I got to sing and act and stuff, so I had more to concentrate on. I enjoyed the acting side more than the singing at the time, and I remember playing the Artful Dodger in Oliver at the Bloomsbury Theatre in Central London and loving it. I still really enjoy acting and wouldnt mind doing some more one day.’

Despite his love of acting, for now Lee is more than happy to concentrate on his thriving singing career. ‘I’ve always loved singing, but I was never looking to get into a boy band particularly. I wasnt fussy about what I wanted to do. My mum always really encouraged me with my singing and it kind of spurred me on, and obviously Im really happy with how things have turned out. ‘Antony, Duncan and Simon have all got real talent and they can all sing really well which I think is the most important thing about Blue. I never wanted to be in a band where we were selling ourselves on an image and there was no talent to back it up. We’re not trying to be anything were not, we’re all genuine singers and what you see is what you get. ‘I dont know what I’d be doing if I wasnt in Blue. I haven’t really thought about it. As far as I’m concerned I’m here and I’m happy. It’s wicked.’

After 5 years with Blue, Lee left the group and signed a 1.1 million dollar record deal with Sony/BMG. Hugh Goldsmith, who worked with Blue, wanted to make Lee the next Robbie Williams. Lee was a top priority for Sony/BMG. His first solo single ‘Army Of Lovers’ was released on the 7th of July and was soon followed with his debut album ‘Lee Ryan’. He also became the new face of Dolce and Gabbana, followed by a role in ‘Ice Age II: The Meltdown’ as Elk Dad and ‘L’era Glaciale 2: Il Disgelo’ as Eddie. Lee is also hoping to record his first movie. A movie about his own life when he was younger.