Hollyaoks star James Sutton has admitted the cast worry they will be killed off whenever there is a big storyline in the soap.

The Channel 4 soap will celebrate its 20th birthday in October with a week featuring the show’s first ever gay pride festival, a white-water Indiana Jones style pursuit – and the revelation of the gloved-hand killer.

James Sutton
James Sutton (Ian West/PA)

The 32-year-old actor, who has played John Paul McQueen in the soap since 2006, will have a central part in some of the anniversary storylines, but confessed there were mixed emotions about the high drama involved.

James revealed: “I think whenever there’s a big episode in which stunts get used, people immediately start looking at their contracts and going through storylines and speaking to Bryan [Kirkwood, the producer] and going, ‘No don’t kill me off! Don’t kill me off!’

“But it’s the nature of the show, people come and go. I know there are going to be some surprises in that week, I can’t really say much more, but there will be surprises…”

And James is equally excited about being involved.

John Paul McQueen is having an affair with his cousin Porsche's husband Lockie
John Paul McQueen is having an affair with his cousin Porsche’s husband Lockie (Lime Pictures)

He said: “There’s a lot of people involved, a lot of cast involved. I know the writers have been working really hard on it.

“It’s nice to be around and working on the show during this period.

“We’re all really excited about it. It’s a really nice time to be a part of the show, especially with it being the anniversary. I just hope the audience enjoy it as much as we will!”