While American daytime TV audiences have been avidly following the ground-breaking romance between gay teenagers Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) and Noah Mayer (Jake Silbermann) on As the World Turns, and night time audiences have cheered the out Kevin Walker’s (Matthew Rhys) relationships on Brothers & Sisters, across the pond British soap fans have been following their own gay storylines for much longer.

US television has never seen anything quite like the fan reaction Luke and Noah’s teenage romance has produced on ATWT, the first American soap opera to depict a fully realized romantic gay male coupling as an integral part of the show. In the UK, however, gay storylines in soap operas are nothing new. In fact, from EastEnders to Emmerdale, gay characters have been a fundamental part of UK soaps for the last two decades. (Unlike US daytime dramas like ATWT, the majority of British soaps are broadcast at night.)

One of the most popular gay storylines of late has been on Hollyoaks which differs from its competition both in the time it is broadcast and, until recently, its gay content. The show has never been shy when it comes to controversial storylines, which is particularly noteworthy since it airs well before the 9:00PM watershed (the cut-off point for UK programs intended for family viewing) and reaches a younger audience than do other soaps. However, the show has had a poor record when it comes to gay storylines.

Thankfully, the award-winning UK teen drama earlier this year introduced a storyline that saw John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) come out as gay, and also had him fall in love with his best friend Craig Dean (Guy Burnet). The program is now undoubtedly the crème de la crème in the UK when it comes to showcasing gay plotlines.

Not only did the long-running storyline prove to be one of the show’s most popular, but it also gained something of a cult following amongst fans of the show, both gay and straight. So popular was the storyline that James Sutton received a nomination for Britain’s National Television Awards (comparable to America’s People’s Choice Awards) as Most Popular Actor, though he ultimately did not win.

Although the character of John Paul didn’t make his debut in the soap until September 2006, Craig was a long-established and popular character. While it has since been confirmed that John Paul was conceived as gay right from the get go, Craig, by and large, had always been portrayed as straight.

However, the dynamics of their friendship changed dramatically back in January, when the “I love you” episode aired. It was the moment when a distraught, tearful John Paul came out and declared his feelings for his best mate, Craig. It was heartrending, emotional and beautifully executed. Quite simply, it was one of the finest coming out scenes in British television history – never mind a British soap. And after a highly charged week of denied feelings, the pair finally shared their first kiss.

Thus began a seven-month roller coaster ride that saw Hollyoaks going gay in a very big way. Viewers quickly stopped caring whether the McQueen sisters got hitched or whether Warren went down for attempted murder. It was the romantic liaisons between McDean, as the lovers were named, that proved to be must-see TV. And from their first kiss in February to their first sexual encounter in May, viewers were hooked.

Like most teenage relationships – never mind gay ones – it was full of angst and confusion. Torn by his recently awakened sexual feelings for his gay best friend, Craig faced a serious dilemma. Stick with his gorgeous and loyal girlfriend Sarah or let his lust for best mate John Paul get the better of him. When writers threw in a boyfriend for John Paul (Spike) as well as his besotted ex (Hannah) into the mix, things grew even more complicated and tense. Viewers were riveted.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the truth finally came out after a shocked Sarah discovered Craig and John Paul kissing during her and Craig’s engagement party. Forced to confront his feelings, Craig finally found the strength to come clean and he and John Paul decided to make a fresh start in Ireland. But sadly they, and we, didn’t quite get that happily-ever-after ending.

In what is probably one of the show’s most heartbreaking scenes, John Paul came to the conclusion that he needed more from the relationship than Craig was able to give him. In short, he needed a boyfriend who was as comfortable in his own skin as he was. And so, the pair went their separate ways: John Paul went back to Chester and Craig set off for a new life in Dublin.

As with the current Nuke storyline that’s been unfolding on the traditionally family oriented As the World Turns, what made John Paul and Craig’s relationship so endearing was its respectful treatment and intelligent execution. Their romance was natural and realistic and treated the same, no worse, and no better, than any other heterosexual relationship.