East End to West End

Former soap actress Michelle Ryan has swapped the East End for the West End to make her debut on the London stage.

14:45 24 July 2005

Former soap actress Michelle Ryan has swapped the East End for the West End to make her debut on the London stage.

The actress, who recently left Eastenders, is currently starring as an undercover journalist in the political satire Who's The Daddy?

The play, written by Toby Young and Lloyd Evans, satirises renowned extra-marital flings at the Spectator magazine during the time former home secretary David Blunkett was involved with publisher Kimberley Quinn.

Ryan said she was enjoying her glamorous new role, which is a world away from Walford.

"Before I got EastEnders all I wanted to do was theatre," said the actress.

"I am having such an amazing time doing this".

Comparing the considered world of the theatre with the frantic filming schedules in soap land, Ryan added: "In EastEnders a three page scene is shot in five minutes but in the theatre you get time to do things."

"It's a totally different medium."