A Look Back at "Hollyoaks"’ remarkable John Paul McQueen

Now, I don’t cry much. …Ok that’s a flat out lie. Homeward Bound brings me to tears without even trying. But I don’t cry much when it comes to soaps. But the ‘airport scene’? You all remember what I’m talking about: Just as they’re about to get on the plane for Dublin and a drama-free life, John Paul needs one final reassurance that Craig’s dealing with the fact that his "loves a man" crisis is officially over. So, he asks for a kiss… a kiss that’s out in the open.

And when Craig can’t do it, John Paul is forced to say goodbye: “You don’t know who you are! I love you Craig, with all my heart. You’ve changed my life totally, irreversibly, and I’m never ever going to forget you. But however much I love you, I know I deserve more. I’m sorry.” …Seriously, Homeward Bound’s got nothing on this show. Three towels for making me reach for the Kleenex.

Gay Pothole #4: Barely thereness

Hollyoaks’ Pothole Status: Again, avoided completely

Arbitrary Points Awarded:

It seemed that after introducing the John Paul and Craig romance in 2007, Hollyoaks had filled its gay quota. Concerns about a lack of gay visibility were of the past, and the soap was even honored for its gay plotline by the Stonewall Awards. But after Craig left and John Paul was suddenly single again, the show ran the risk of falling into the ‘barely there’ pothole: of ushering the homo to the secondary background after he’s fulfilled his purpose.

However, Hollyoaks delivered again and kept J.P. out of soap opera oblivion and in the spotlight. For the last several months he has been part of another tumultuous relationship. Somehow (remember those eyes I mentioned?) John Paul managed to get yet another man to fall head over heels for him (body count 4, and yes I am included in that number). This time it was with Kieron, the closeted gay priest.

Now, three points off here for making another gay character closeted, but two points back for making him a priest. This is something new and different that we haven’t seen play out before, and his coming out conflict goes much deeper than Craig’s. Kieron’s is a crisis of identity, but moreover of faith. Loving J.P. meant breaking his vows of celibacy and his devotion to the church. He was faced with a choice between his love for J.P. and his love for J.C. Meanwhile, John Paul was conflicted about dating a(nother) closeted man, again portraying both sides of the complex gay relationship coin.

As are all soap opera secrets eventually, the relationship was outted and Kieron was forced to come to terms with his feelings for John Paul. In the end, he left the collar behind and the two found happiness together …and even went so far as to get engaged! Gay wedding bells earns Hollyoaks three more towels (and a drop of the soap for kicks). Granted the wedding was disrupted by a number of obstacles (cold feet, conniving Niall, the return of our old friend Craig and Kieron’s untimely death) but the mere fact that John Paul was given the chance to be part of a well-rounded relationship rooted in believability, is one more example of how Hollyoaks avoided virtually all the Gay Potholes in its way.