Jellykat, I met Ryan many, many years ago on a neighbours night. One of my friends decided to take the piss about him and be really cruel about his weight and asked how did he manage to get girls being so fat.
He took it in really good spirits and most definitely got his own back and totally embarrassed her back with bells on. Very, very sharp. He was absolutely lovely with us all later in the night and was a good laugh. He made my friend feel really guilty about it all in the end. I did get the impression he was also quite hurt by the comments and put on something of a brave face as it wasn't unusual for some smart arse to do something similar. I find it interesting that he lost so much weight in the years since too. So I think he's actually a lot more vulnerable and sensitive under the surface than he would like anyone to know.
He seemed very, very genuine and not just because he was paid to come and talk to us. He could very easily have just given us a hello and then moved on to talk to other people quite rapidly. None of our group were the type to flirt or try it on and he wasn't trying it on with any of us despite of the reputation he had at the time. And under the circumstances, none of us would have begrudged him just doing what was required to do. He was just a straight down the line nice guy.
Everything I've seen on CBB has been exactly what I'd expected him to be on the show off that back of that brief meeting. Obviously meeting someone once in circumstances like that, is a bit odd and not exactly 'knowing them' but CBB only reinforced my real life impressions.
I do think he's had something of a tough break with everyone making the assumption that hes the tough Aussie bloke who can it on the chin on just about every task.