After twenty years playing John Paul McQueen on Hollyoaks, actor James Sutton has reportedly filmed his last episodes, marking a significant departure from the soap opera.
The character debuted in September 2006 and has since been involved in many major plotlines, including a popular romance with Craig Dean (Guy Burnet), a struggle with addiction, and the surprising revelation that Sally St Claire (Annie Wallace) was his long-lost parent.
I’m really worried about what’s coming up for my friend. It looks like Ant Hutchinson is going to cause trouble again at work, and it’s going to get so bad that the police will have to be called. But what’s even more heartbreaking is that this whole situation is going to force him to finally talk about the abuse he suffered from George Kiss. He’s going to open up in an addiction support group, and I’m proud of him for taking that step, but it’s going to be really tough to watch him relive that pain.
A source has told The Sun that Sutton’s exit will be “explosive”, in true Hollyoaks fashion.
Sutton has been a key member of the show for two decades, and his departure is understandably upsetting for everyone involved. However, those involved say his exit will be dramatic and impactful.
This isn’t the first time actor Sutton has left the Channel 4 soap opera. He previously left in 2008 and spent four years playing Ryan Lamb on Emmerdale before returning.
He left for five years, then took another two-year break before making guest appearances in 2019 and returning full-time in 2020.
The actor plans to keep producing his podcast, Male Mind Matters, while also dedicating time to building his career as a self-improvement coach.
Hollyoaks is available to watch on catch-up on Channel 4 and airs Monday to Wednesday on E4.
Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing the latest news and spoilers for popular shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he was a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and also gained experience working on the sets of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
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2026-01-13 18:04