Taking a break from family life with David and Emily
JACK RYDER AND KYM MARSH
The duo enjoy a second honeymoon in Cyprus and say it’s a definite improvement
on their disastrous first!
OK Magazine Oct 2004
Normally honeymoon memories are all very romantic. But this was certainly not the case
when Jack Ryder and Kym Marsh went on their ill-fated honeymoon two years ago.
Everything that could go wrong did. So, to make up for this and to give Kym a well-needed
break from treading the boards as Annette in Saturday Night Fever, the couple headed
to Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort in Cyprus for a relaxing holiday.
Jack, who starred as Jamie in Eastenders for four years, tells OK! He’s actually enjoying
being a jobbing actor, going to auditions and taking the knock-backs that are part and
parcel of his industry. The 23-year old is happy to spend time learning his trade, having
joined Eastenders straight from school, and is also enjoying life at the Hertfordshire home
he shares with Kym and her two children, nine-year old David and Emily, six.
Kym, 28, who shot to fame as part of Hear’Say, also reveals that she’s loving her role in
Saturday Night Fever and would like to do more acting…
You’ve just been on holiday – were you celebrating anything special?
Kym: We wanted to have a second honeymoon as the first one in Corfu was so bad!
Why was the honeymoon so bad?
Kym: The drama started when we got locked out of our villa on the first day. Then we got
the bad news that our rabbit had died so my kids at home were devastated, then I got
stung on the backside. It was really swollen and I had to go to hospital and get an
antihistamine jab. The villa was infested with ants and God knows what else. And then I
had some really sad news when I found out that a friend I’d known for years had killed
himself, but we didn’t find out till the honeymoon.
Jack: Everything went from bad to worse – and we got attacked by lots of different
species, including a dog!
What did you do in Cyprus?
Jack: We just had fun. It was wonderful to be able to sit by the pool and not do anything. I
went on a jet ski and we had some thalassotherapy treatments in the spa with some
friends we made at the hotel.
Kym: Because I’m doing eight shows a week, I really needed to relax.
Was it a romantic place?
Kym: We were really open mouthed when we got there. The view was amazing as it’s so
close to the sea, and we had our own private beach.
Jack: We loved going to this Japanese restaurant built on a platform over a pond filled
with koi carp where you could sit and watch the chef prepare fresh sushi.
Did you come back feeling you had a stronger marriage?
Jack: We came back and thought we could fight the world, if you know what I mean!
Kym: I had to go straight back to work and I really missed Jack after our week away.
Kym, do you spend less time at home now than you did when you were a pop
singer?
I definitely spend more time at home now, even thought I’m doing eight shows a week. I
don’t have to be in till 6pm, except on Friday and Saturday when I have matinees, and I
don’t work on Sundays, so I’m around at all the important times, like being able to take
the kids to school.
How do you get on with David and Emily, Jack?
My parents separated when I was about a year old, so I already had an education about
having a dad and a stepdad. We get on really well.
Are you a hands-on stepdad?
With Kym at work in the evenings, it’s just me and the kids, so I need to get them to do
their homework and get into bed. They’re good kids – of course there are times when
they’re not, but they’re very well behaved.
How many times have you seen Kym in Saturday Night Fever?
I’ve probably seen it about 20 times!
Kym: That’s because of Emily. She’d go every night if we let her, she knows everybody’s
lines.
How’s your broken nose, Kym?
Fine. I was about to go on and was crossing under the stage, when I bumped into a
dancer and his elbow caught my nose. I heard a crack and then it was like in a cartoon – a
bump just appeared. I rang Jack but I didn’t know the microphone was still on and you
could just hear me going: “S**t Jack, I’ve broken my nose!” I’ve just had a treatment to
manipulate it back into shape.
What are you doing work-wise, Jack?
I’m quite happy working as an actor and feeling what it’s like to be getting knock-backs
and to be in the casting room with ten clones of myself. I didn’t leave Eastenders to do
something bigger because at that time it was the biggest thing you could get. I left to try
and do something else in the acting business.
Will you still be doing panto?
Yes, I start work next month as Prince Charming in Canterbury, which is going to be
hilarious. I also have a small part in the ITV1 drama MIT, which is on in November. And I’ve
got various projects in the pipeline for early next year which I’m keeping my mouth closed
about as I don’t want to jinx them.
Would you appear in a reality show?
No, I’ve done Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes but that’s all I’m doing. I left Eastenders to get
away from the press intrusion.
Kym: Jack doesn’t do a lot of interviews. He loves to act but hates the publicity that
comes with it.
The pair of you seem so well-suited…
Jack: After two weeks I felt like I’d known Kym for years – it was so easy. Critics said we’d
never last and we’ve been together for three-and-a-half-years.
Kym: There’s always going to be speculation about us but we’ve learnt to live with it.
What would you like to do next, career wise, Kym?
I’d quite like to experience one more show, after Saturday Night Fever and maybe do
some TV acting. Jack tells me I’m not bad!
Would you like to act together?
Kym: When married couples do things together it’s normally a bit cringe worthy. When I
saw Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise do the love scenes together I thought, that’s kind of
real – I don’t want to see that!
Jack: I think any material coming our way that has us together isn’t going to be my cup of
tea. I just wouldn’t want to appear as lovers or a couple.