Past Project

Hollyoaks

Lime Pictures
presents

Executive Producer:
Bryan Kirkwood

Director:
Matt Holt

Writer:
Jessica Lea

Cast:
James Sutton (John Paul McQueen), Keith Rice (Finn O’Connor), Annette Flynn (D.S. Glennie)

Summary:
Schoolteacher John Paul McQueen faces severe bullying, psychological manipulation, and ultimate sexual assault by student Finn O’Connor. The storyline explores John Paul’s complex struggle with trauma, shame, and silence before he ultimately finds the strength to seek justice through the legal system.

In 2013, Hollyoaks did what no other teen-drama had done before… it tackled male rape as a subject matter pre-watershed.

The storyline and script was developed in association with Duncan Craig OBE, who also coached both key members of the cast and worked alongside the Director to not only ensure that the story was portrayed authentically but also that the media that surrounded the story was delivered sensitively and ensured that male survivors who would be watching the show felt able to use the story to speak about their own experiences.

The success of this historic piece of television can never be quantified more than it became the standard for how male victims stories are developed and told; along with the story being a direct catalyst to moving Government to create the first ever fund for organisations supporting male victims/survivors.