James Sutton is a British actor, writer and speaker, best known for his role as John Paul McQueen on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. His decades of experience in the public eye, as well as playing roles that explored ‘taboo’ storylines, James specialises in decision-making, reliability, and performance under pressure.
Joining the cast of Hollyoaks in 2006, his character became a pioneering figure for LGBTQ+ representation after coming out as gay and beginning a relationship with his best friend. The show was nominated for and won multiple awards for the storyline, with James himself being named a gay icon by BBC News. He left the show in 2008, moving to ITV’s Emmerdale to play Ryan Lamb until 2011. He continued to appear on Hollyoaks between 2012 and 2017, and 2019 and 2026, when he announced he would leave the show for the final time. Alongside his acting career, James is the founder of Protocol, an organisation that looks to align structure, consistency, and small non-negotiable commitments with rebuilding confidence, direction and identity in uncertain times. His writings and tools offered through Protocol are utilised by professionals navigating career transitions, leadership pressure, and identity shifts after major life changes, providing leaders, founders, men’s groups, and more with practical advice on how to perform when motivation is stifled, certainty is unclear and how to use discipline as a grounding asset.
He is also the host of the Male Mind Matters podcast, where he dives into the lives of everyday men and looks to break down emotional barriers, redefine masculinity, and cultivate candid conversations. James has been previously nominated for Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards and has received praise for his performances from a multitude of media outlets and organisations.
With over 20 years as an actor, James knows how to deliver an impactful and meaningful message full of passion and dedication. His unique worldview and public position make him the perfect addition to a multitude of events, with his ability to resonate with a wide array of audiences. His unsentimental and grounded approach centres on what he believes is an often-overlooked problem in our modern lives: we don’t lack motivation – we lack self-trust.
James Sutton's official speaking topics are listed below:
How To Become Reliable Again
- Motivation is fragile and temporary. Self-help relies on Motivation. Reliability is what actually changes lives.
Why Discipline Works When Motivation Doesn’t
- Men have been sold motivation, inspiration, and future promises, and it hasn’t worked.
What Happens When You Outsource Your Value
- When value lives outside you - in roles, visibility, approval, substances, or comfort, agency erodes.
Future-Proof Your Career: How To Build Options in a Changing Economy
- In a changing economy, invisibility is the real risk, not lack of skill.
- 2026 – Left Hollyoaks for the final time
- 2025 – Launched Protocol
- 2024 – Nominated for Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards
- 2019 – Returned to Hollyoaks
- 2017 – Left Hollyoaks
- 2012 – Returned to Hollyoaks
- 2011 - Left Emmerdale
- 2009 – Joined Emmerdale as Ryan Lamb
- 2008 – Left Hollyoaks
- 2006 – Joined Hollyoaks as John Paul McQueen
How to hire James Sutton
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring James Sutton for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
