Jack Ryder was cast in the role of Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders at the age of 16, a character he played for five years. He then moved into theatre, performing in plays by Alan Bennett, Tim Firth and David Hare, before going on to direct Calendar Girls, The Full Monty and the West End production of The Band Musical.

He played Evan Crowhurst in Holby City in 2019, and in January 2020 he is directing a production of Alan Bennet's The History Boys. It is his lifelong ambition to be a children's book author. Jack's Secret Summer is his first book.