I catch up with Hollyoaks' James Sutton on overcoming struggles and his new podcast

I catch up with Hollyoaks' James Sutton on overcoming struggles and his new podcast

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If actor James Sutton had lived in another era he would have been known as a Matinee idol.

He’s now residing in Hollyoaks after a long stint in Emmerdale a few years ago. He’s been in many stage productions.

James is directing, writing and has now started his own podcast called Male Mind Matters. It’s candid conversation with remarkable men.

I’ve just interviewed James for my podcast and I was thrilled to find out that he once had a ‘proper job’. Everybody in showbusiness is always asked that question.

What James doesn’t know about ceiling tiles, isn’t worth knowing. Then he came out with a revelation that stopped me in my tracks - he actually trained as a bingo caller.

His first acting role was in Lynda La Plante’s Trial and Retribution which was a brutal, but brilliant drama. He played a very bad baddie.

We talked about training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. One thing he is passionate about is working with real actors, who take their craft very seriously.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1063972765133099

James has done a lot of teaching to make sure his students know just how hard the industry really is and how passionate you have to be to survive.

This lovely man has had dark times in his life, which he talked to me about. He said it was a bleak time, had mental health issues and addiction problems.

He suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, which did not help. He found himself in the deepest depression.

His marriage wasn’t working, he wasn’t looking after himself. In fact, he was drinking far too much.

Plus he was experimenting with drugs on occasion. He couldn’t see a way out of the black hole.

He could spend three days in bed without cleaning his teeth and he was so sad that he wasn’t a good friend, or husband.

He didn’t have an epiphany or hit rock bottom, he just had to change everything. I am delighted to say that he is in such a good place now and he’s found out who he is.

He is ambitious, and creative again and he certainly does not take his friends for granted any more. James’s character in Hollyoaks is John Paul McQueen.

Over the years in the series his character has had to deal with some very heavy storylines. He struggled with his sexuality, and he was brutally raped.

The latest big storyline was conversion therapy. This harmful practice was dealt with brilliantly by Hollyoaks, the writers, and James.

Mr Sutton has spoken a lot more on my podcast, The Very Best of Pete Price. Check out his - Male Mind Matters - as well, which has just launched.

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