Hollyoaks legend James Sutton has signed on to appear in the Channel 4 soap for another year, it has been revealed.
Sutton, 41, has played fan favourite John Paul McQueen across three stints since 2006.
The character is currently in a relationship with serial killer Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield), blissfully unaware that he’s bumped off Dilly Harcourt (Emma Johnsey-Smith) and is ready to strike again.
John Paul is also supporting sister Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) who is battling an aggressive form of bowel cancer.
Last week, after falling seriously ill with sepsis, she announced that she was going to keep fighting.
Hollyoaks’ future has been up in the air for some time, following last year’s mass cast exodus and further cost-cutting across the board at Lime Pictures’ production base in Liverpool.
The changes, which were implemented in September, saw episodes trimmed down to 20 minutes, now only airing three times a week.
A time jump – devised as a way to propel storylines into the future and explain a number of sudden cast departures – also occurred.
At the time, it was reported that these decisions were made to secure the soap’s future in a new multi-year deal with Channel 4.
Show boss Hannah Cheers said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that the move to a three episode per week pattern means an inevitable reduction to the brilliant and talented Hollyoaks team.’
The decision was reportedly been made as a result of audience research: ‘We all only have so many telly hours to play with and research tells us that the audience watches three episodes a week,’
‘This new viewing pattern will allow us to explore stories in the way they demand to be told – and not by putting the cart before the horse.’
‘As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2025, we are passionate about driving Hollyoaks forward and reaching new generations,’
‘This show has a unique way of connecting with its audience and a special place in its heart and as Channel 4’s digital-first soap, we are seeing huge success in the streaming-first model’ she added.
‘Phil Redmond’s 1995 trailblazing mission was a success and the Hollyoaks story is far from over.’
James has now clarified where John Paul stands for the foreseeable, and it’s good news!
‘I’m still on Hollyoaks, which is great. I’ve just signed another year’ he told the Tom’s Talks podcast.
‘I’m going to be there until January 2026. Yeah. I’m there until January 2026.’
Earlier this month he paid tribute to co-star Diane Langton, who played Nana McQueen, following her death aged 77.
James re-shared a picture of them both from 2015, where he wrote at the time: ‘If I could only work with one actress for the rest of my life, it’d be this one. The most talented, sensitive, wonderful women you could ever meet. My Nana.’
He followed with a recent photograph of them on set, adding: ’18 years. My heart is so broken.
‘Thankyou for your love, kindness, generosity, warmth, friendship, humour and care. Sleep well Nana. Your Moley x’
