Hollyoaks icon reveals he’s signed a new contract to keep him on the soap until 2026 amid amid serial killer storyline
HOLLYOAKS favourite James Sutton has he’s signed a new contract to stay on the Channel 4 soap for another year.
The actor, who plays Jean Paul McQueen, will be on screen for at least another 12 months, despite 25 cast members quitting the show.
James, 41, who has been a familiar face on the soap since 2006, joined The Tom’s Talks podcast as he revealed his place on the soap was safe.
He told listeners: “I’m still on Hollyoaks, which is great. I’ve just signed another year.”
James added: “I’m going to be there until January 2026. Yeah. I’m there until January 2026.”
Jean Paul has been at the centre of a string of hard-hitting storylines.
His character tackled a horrifying rape storyline after Jean Paul was attacked by student Finn O’Connor.
He left the soap in 2017 for a job in Singapore after his relationship with James Nightingale broke down, but returned five years later.
Jean Paul currently supporting his sister Mercedes McQueen as she battles an aggressive form of bowel cancer.
Killer surprise
It comes after fans were left furious after soap bosses revealed that Martha Blake is set to become a serial killer.
Many viewers feel that the new plotline has been overdone and is an example of lazy writing at this point.
Others also complained that the killing rampage is just being used as an excuse to axe characters as Hollyoaks bosses previously admitted that they are culling twenty actors.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Sherrie Hewson is going to make history by playing the oldest serial killer on the soap come September.
A source shared that the star, 73, is delighted to get the chance to be at the center of such a huge story.
They added: “She can’t wait to get her hands dirty with the blood of characters.
“Hollyoaks is at its best when there’s a major villain on the loose and Martha is going to top them all. She’s just as twisted as her murderous great-granddaughter Nico.
“She may be worse. No one’s safe with Martha around.”
Hollyoaks has had an old-age murderer before in Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle), who was 72 during his 2020 killings.
Time jump
Bosses came up with a bizarre “time jump” concept to fast-forward 20 characters out of the soap.
It saw the action permanently move forward by one year, when some families just so happen to have left the village.
A source told The Sun last March: “Losing 20 cast members in one fell swoop is eye-watering and devastating news for soapland.
“In the past, Hollyoaks has seen shock stunts claim up to five lives in a single episode.
“But the days of soaps having a big cast clear-out with a devastating stunt are long gone, especially on Hollyoaks where the budget has been dramatically cut.
“The necessary death toll would make almost any stunt idea totally unbelievable.”
The Sun revealed at the time how big names Jamie Lomas, who plays Warren Fox, and Owen Warner, the show’s Romeo Nightingale, have already volunteered to leave.