Hollyoaks star James Sutton quits acting for OnlyFans – months after leaving cost-cutting soap

HOLLYOAKS legend James Sutton has opened up on his second act just months after he left the cost-cutting soap. The 43-year-old told how he’s “shutting the door” on his acting career after two decades on the Channel 4 show. James Sutton played John Paul McQueen on the Channel 4 soap for two decades before walking away Credit: LIME PICTURES Hunky former Hollyoaks star James has been showing off his washboard abs after a body transformation Credit: thejamesutton/Instagram James, who is best known for playing John Paul McQueen on Hollyoaks, launched his OnlyFans page in April, two months on from quitting the soap. He told The Mail he had “emotionally checked out” before he left and previously admitted he felt “a lot of the heart of the show had been ripped out,” amid cast and crew cuts. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! James said: “Right now, I’m not looking for acting work. I’ve kind of shut that door. “As a 43-year-old man, being in and out of work was not something that interested me. Read more on James Sutton “I have nothing but respect for people who can have that resilience to keep going, you know, even if they’re not booking jobs and stuff.” Speaking on his new OnlyFans career, James confessed: “I never had much body confidence on Hollyoaks, which is kind of a sexy show. “I never felt like a sexy kind of character or performer, so I wouldn’t do scenes with my top off or anything like that. “So, yeah, OnlyFans has been a really, really lovely experience. It’s made me feel really confident in the way that I look. Most read in TV “It’s nice to feel sexy, you know, for the first time, and you know, at 43 years of age, it’s nice to have a place where I can be a bit sexy. He continued: “I’m on OnlyFans and I’m having these really interesting conversations with men and I’m sharing a side of myself that I’ve never really shared before. “I don’t think you can get any more authentic than that really. I feel very, very fulfilled.” James has been sharing cheeky snaps of him in his pants on the platform and a source told us back in May that there’s more for premium customers. Hunky actor James has been maintaining his washboard abs since launched the page, working hard in the gym five days a week. Recalling his sad Hollyoaks exit, James said: “I kind of emotionally checked out some time before I left. “The direction of travel was clearly not in my favour on the show. It’s an ensemble. “They’ve got a big cast and there’s only so many people can get storylines. I had definitely fallen down the pecking order a little bit.” In early 2024, Channel 4 delivered a devastating blow to Hollyoaks fans as they announced they were slashing the weekly schedule from five episodes to just three. The budget cuts triggered a huge cull as approximately 135 jobs were lost including staff, crew, cast and writers. Comment now