<P> Ryan's storylines include discovering that Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) is not his biological mother, his relationships with Sian Powers (Sacha Parkinson), Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote) and Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), becoming a drug abuser and encouraging Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) to take drugs . </P> <P> Ryan arrives with mother Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) and it is clear that the two of them have a very close relationship . Ryan is caught by Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) vandalising The Kabin . Michelle makes him help in the newsagents every night after school for a week . For a time, Michelle dates affluent businessman Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron). After they break up, Ryan goes joyriding in Sonny's car . He is caught by the police, though later released . When he returns to the Street, his uncle Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher) smacks him across the face . The reason for this is later revealed to be that Paul caused the demise of Ryan's late father, Dean Powell, due to careless driving when Ryan was 9 years old . Later, Paul dies in a car accident after kidnapping Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson). Ryan is really upset after losing Paul and his father but he survives without them remembering that he still has Liam . </P> <P> Ryan is stalked by a mysterious stranger who knows him by name . When tracked down, the man, Nick Neeson (Robert Horwell), explains that he believes Ryan to be his real son, and his own son Alex Neeson (Dario Coates) to be Michelle's after a baby mix - up at the hospital . A DNA test later confirms this to be the case . Ryan gets extremely jealous when his mother starts taking Alex out for the day and has a fight with him . They are both hit by a car but suffer minor injuries . Ryan opens up to his uncle Liam Connor (Rob James - Collier) about how much Michelle is choosing Alex over him and then cries . Liam tells Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), Michelle's boyfriend, who tells Michelle that Ryan is losing sleep over the fear of losing his only parent . Even though Michelle does not want to lose them both she still has to send Alex home because Ryan is the son that she has loved and raised since birth . She is also reassured by Steve that even though Alex is the son she had with Dean, Ryan is the son she raised with him and the son Dean knew before he died . After Alex moves out, Ryan moves back in . Ryan continues to see Nick on occasion but stops after his uncle's death . He realises that no one can compare to Dean . One time Ryan leaves his book behind, leaving his mother to chase after him starting to say he is just like his dad . Ryan becomes upset at the prospect of not inheriting anything from Dean but then Michelle reassures him that because they spent so much time together his traits have rubbed of on Ryan . Ryan then looks wistful as he started to realise how great Dean was . </P> <P> Ryan attends Tony Gordon's (Gray O'Brien) stag party . Tony sends Ryan home as he is too young to go to a strip club and later that night Liam is killed in a hit - and - run . Ryan is later informed of the news by Michelle . Ryan became inconsolable and Michelle thinks it best that he doesn't see the body at the morgue as it will upset him even more . However, Ryan adamantly argues that he has to come in order to get closure so his mother reluctantly gives in . On the day of Liam's funeral, Ryan tells Maria that he is trying to escape his grandfather Barry (Frank Grimes) because he is trying to bond with him like Liam and he is not in the mood, however, this all changes after the funeral . Ryan kisses Sian Powers (Sacha Parkinson) after one of his gigs and the pair enter into a relationship . Sian's father, Vinnie (Ian Dunn) arrives on the scene, threatening Ryan as he thinks that he has been sleeping with Sian, after finding condoms in her bag . It is revealed that Sian bought the condoms and she and Ryan have sex . Sophie, Michelle and Jake Harman (Kenny Doughy) catch them, causing an argument that results in Sian leaving and spoiling Michelle and Jake's night . After Sian's father finds out that Ryan and Sian have slept together, he sends Sian to Southport to live with her mother, leaving Ryan and Sophie devastated . </P>

Who plays michelle's son alex in coronation street