![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_285964731-15ec.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe actor made a huge career move (Picture:\u00a0Anthony Devlin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe actor made a huge career move (Picture:\u00a0Anthony Devlin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Hollyoaks<\/a>\u00a0legend\u00a0James Sutton<\/a>\u00a0said his final goodbye to the most dramatic village in the North West in February, before taking his career in a surprising new direction \u2013 OnlyFans.<\/p>\n The actor played\u00a0John Paul McQueen<\/a>, on-and-off, for 20 years, first arriving back in 2006. The story that undoubtedly put his character on the map was his coming-out love story with his best mate,\u00a0Craig Dean (Guy Burnet)<\/a>.<\/p>\n After a break from the show, he returned to Hollyoaks for a second stint, which saw John Paul\u2019s dream job as a teacher turn into a nightmare when he was bullied, tormented and\u00a0violently raped by Finn O\u2019Connor (Keith Rice)<\/a>. <\/p>\n The harrowing story eventually saw John Paul get justice and his attacker was sent to prison for his appalling crimes, bringing the classic character\u2019s second stint in Dee Valley to a close.<\/p>\n John Paul\u2019s final chapter in Hollyoaks saw him embroiled in a\u00a0domestic abuse plot with new boyfriend,\u00a0George Kiss (Callum Kerr)<\/a>, ending with his murder\u00a0at the hands of JP\u2019s mum, Sally St. Claire (Annie Wallace)<\/a>. <\/p>\n This sent JP spiralling down into alcoholism<\/a>, falling into toxic relationships with self-loathing conversion therapist, Carter Shepherd (David Ames)<\/a>\u00a0and Patrick Blake\u2019s serial killing twin\u00a0Jez Blake<\/a>\u00a0(Jeremy Sheffield<\/a>). <\/p>\n He left the show for good in early 2026 in a special \u2018What If?\u2019 episode <\/a>featuring a reunion of return McQueens both alive and dead.<\/p>\n With his time in Soapland coming to a close, James Sutton was left to answer the question that daunts every actor \u2013 what next?<\/p>\n \t\t OnlyFans is a social media platform typically associated with adult content. But James is shattering expectations of the public perception of OF by using it to promote mental health, life goals and body positivity. <\/p>\n \u2018The journey I\u2019ve been on the past five years to ten years, in terms of my physical health and my mental health and overcoming addiction, really poor choices and ultimately not being reliable to myself.\u2019 James told Metro. \u2018These are the foundations of the things I write and talk about. So going on OF is a really good opportunity for me.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The interactions I have had so far have been super positive. People are really resonating with what I am doing and what I am saying, putting out a variety of different content on the platform, some value stuff, performative stuff, some gym videos, some fitness, some straight to camera stuff.\u00a0 Real life stuff, and some.. you know\u2026. Some pictures of me in my pants!\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Because I\u2019m 43 years of age. And it shouldn\u2019t just be my cats that get to appreciate all my hard work. I can share that with the world! So there\u2019s something for everyone. I\u2019m having a really good time. Give the boys and girls what they want!\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tDon’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n Click the button below and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n \nAdd us as a Preferred Source<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \t\t Only Fans was a huge transition for the actor, who is used to the rigorous process of filming and the tight deadlines of learning lines for last minute reshoots. Now he\u2019s firmly in the driving seat, controlling the content and learning how to navigate the complex anomaly that is the algorithm and keep his fans engaged. James talked us through the ups and down of the transition from actor to influencer.<\/p>\n \u2018Having autonomy over everything I am doing is quite a nerve-wracking thing, so the challenges I\u2019ve face have been quite an internal thing, quite a personal thing. I\u2019ve always outsourced my value and I\u2019ve always outsourced my work to other people.\u2019 <\/p>\n \u2018Working on Hollyoaks, someone else writes the scripts, somebody else writes the story, you don\u2019t have complete autonomy. You are a conduit for storytelling and that\u2019s amazing. But what I\u2019ve transitioned into now, I have complete control over, and that can make you feel quite vulnerable and quite exposed. Which is really empowering. For the first time in my adult life, to have complete control over what I am doing, it\u2019s a hell of a thing.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018There are occasions where I am writing or filming or creating some form of content and you do have that back and forth in your mind. I am watching I am re-reading things I have written. I\u2019m rewatching things and thinking \u2018is this s***?\u2019 \u2018Is this valuable? \u2018Is this going to resonate with people?\u2019 That\u2019s the biggest challenge.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t While the actor is no stranger to being in the public eye, having a literal window into your life 24\/7 is a different proposition entirely. James is quite rightly proud of the amazing transformation he\u2019s undergone thanks to all his hard word at the gym. He talks about that difficult balance between online and real life, not allowing his social media to become all-encompassing.<\/p>\n \u2018There has to be a balance. I\u2019m booking photoshoots which I am really enjoying,\u2019 he told us. \u2018Working with professional photographers to get really good content because I\u2019m really proud of the way I look. <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve never taken good care of myself, which is a strange thing to say for someone who\u2019s been on Hollyoaks \u2013 which is predominantly knows as a sexy kind of show. I\u2019ve never felt like a fit in with that and now that I do, the opportunity to book photoshoots and have people edit pictures of me which I can share publicly, it\u2019s really empowering. It\u2019s quite an amazing thing.\u2019<\/p>\n OnlyFans is not James\u2019 only platform. He is a well known advocate for mental health and hosts the podcast Male Mind Matters, featuring candid conversations with men about vulnerability, mental health, and modern masculinity.<\/p>\n \u2018The male suicide rate is still through the roof.\u2019 James said. \u2018Far higher than it should be. No man should be struggling like that and not feel like they have anything in common with anyone else. When you\u2019re struggling, it\u2019s a very lonely thing and I speak from experience.\u2019<\/p>\n The actor is no stranger for mental health struggles. James has spoken openly before about his own anxiety<\/a>, and the breakdown of his five year marriage<\/a>. Drawing on his own experiences is both a crucial part of his OnlyFans content, and his podcast.<\/p>\n \u2018Covid was a killer for me. It was awful.\u2019 he continued. \u2018I wouldn\u2019t wish that on anybody, what I went through. My marriage broke down. Making very poor decisions. left right and centre. My panic attacks started coming back all kinds of stuff. The things I\u2019ve put in place now, the system that I have, the small promises that I make to myself every day have allowed me to undergo this transformation and now I have complete reliability in myself.<\/p>\n \u2018Now if something bad happens or if something stressful happens, I have a set of rules in pace that I adhere to. And it doesn\u2019t really require any motivation. I just do it. That\u2019s the key to sustaining a healthy body and a happy mind. I love sharing those ideas I love sharing this thesis on reliability. We are all unreliable to ourselves.\u2019<\/p>\n The Mental Health Matters podcast is not the only string to James\u2019 bow. He is also a regularly contributor to Protocol, a website dedicated to encouraging adults to \u2018reset\u2019 through community and shared experience. It may sound a bit like self-help, but James was keen to shed light on the difference between traditional self help and the work that Protocol does.<\/p>\n \u2018Self help is very future facing and aspirational and requires motivation from a person. There\u2019s a lot of people out there who have tried self-help. They\u2019ve listened to the podcasts, they\u2019ve shouted affirmations in the mirror and it hasn\u2019t made any difference.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Self help has its place, of course it does, but I feel like there\u2019s a lot of people out there who feel like they\u2019re living the same day over and over again. They feel very trapped and they feel very isolated and scared and they feel like they\u2019re not living up to their full potential. I am trying to offer an alternative to that based on the premise that motivation is transient so instead of relying on motivation, keep very small promises to yourself until you can loudly, proudly say \u2018I am someone that I can trust.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The actor\u2019s very busy, and he\u2019s got an even bigger schedule ahead. Aside from regular keynote speaking up and down the country, he is currently working on a short film, as well as a series for OnlyFans safe-for-work video content streaming service, OFTV.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m doing an episode of a show that I am not allowed to talk about, but it\u2019s really fun and something really different that I haven\u2019t done before.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Beyond that, I want to take my Protocol work and get it in front of people. I want to get on stage and do some keynote speaking. I am speaking at a wellness festival in June. I\u2019m speaking at a networking event in Liverpool next week. Just the opportunity to share what I\u2019m living and what I\u2019m thinking and what I\u2019m writing about with more people \u2013 that\u2019s ultimately my ambition for the next decade.\u2019<\/p>\n So that\u2019s a no on a John Paul return, then?<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t The iconic character\u2019s departure was left with the door open for a return, as John Paul departed with son Matthew-Jesus for a new life together in Switzerland. However, with all the McQueens returned for one episode included Sally and cousin Sylvester McQueen (David Tag), this bittersweet farewell really felt like the final goodbye.<\/p>\n But James isn\u2019t ruling anything out when it comes to acting again.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2018Never say never. I\u2019m not actively looking for acting work. I\u2019ve had an amazing 20 year career. I\u2019ve been so lucky. I\u2019ve done so much interesting and different work. But having this autonomy over my career is not something I\u2019ve experienced.<\/p>\n \u2018To not be at the mercy of a casting director or an agent, having that control is something I\u2019m really enjoying. But I\u2019m always going to be an actor, and if something came around that was interesting and inspired me, then I\u2019d certainly be willing to have a conversation.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m doing a short film alter on this year with a new director, someone I really respect, and that\u2019s going to be a chance to scratch that itch. But right now, I\u2019m really enjoying what I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us\u00a0soaps@metro.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Join the community by leaving a comment below and\u00a0stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_237678572-3c31.jpg\")
\n\t\tJames has played John Paul McQueen on Hollyoaks since 2006 (Picture: Lime Pictures)<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_266286966-251a.jpg\")
\n\t\tJames haas joined OnlyFans (Picture: thejamesutton \/ Instagram)<\/p>\n![\"Soaps](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778263158_431_SEI_278522320-46a3.jpg\")
\n\t\tNow you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_285965631-71fe.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe actor shares his lived experiences on social media (Picture: James Sutton\/Instagram)<\/p>\n![\"TELEVISION](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AY_36770443-5b9f.jpg\")
\n\t\tJames is also known for having played Ryan Lamb in Emmerdale between 2009 and 2011 (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"TELEVISION](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AD_123619478-090f.jpg\")
\n\t\tWill John Paul ever cause chaos in the village again? (Picture: Lime Pictures).<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6682-McQueens-What-If-Special-episode-@LimePictures-3-0fbf.jpeg\")
\n\t\tThe McQueens reunited for a \u2018What If?\u2019 episode as part of James\u2019 exit storyline(Picture: Lime Pictures)<\/p>\n
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