Lime Pictures

Hollyoaks announced a bold new storyline last month as show bosses confirmed that schoolteacher John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) will be raped by student Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice) early next year.

Show chiefs have worked closely with expert advisors while devising the plot, including Stonewall, St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral, Survivors Manchester and Survivors UK.

Digital Spy recently chatted to Duncan Craig - founder of Survivors Manchester and himself a real-life survivor - for an insider's perspective on the planned story, the issues involved and the reaction from viewers so far.

What are your thoughts on the decision to tackle this issue in a show like Hollyoaks?

"I think tackling a difficult issue on a show like Hollyoaks is a really brave move - brave in the sense that I think they know that they could get flak for doing it, but despite that they are choosing to go ahead as they really see the importance of breaking the silence around the sexual abuse and rape of men. This is one of society's last taboos.



"I talk to you now as a service provider who sees the impact on many boys and men of society's silence around this subject, but I'm also talking to you now as a survivor myself. I can tell you first hand what it's like not to know you can speak about this, what it's like to have some words in your mouth that you are desperate to say, yet you're literally terrified of saying them as every message you get from the world is not to talk about it.

"If I'd have seen something like this when I was a teenager, I might not have spoken out straight away, but at least I would have known it's okay to talk about. Talking about rape never killed anyone, not talking about rape does!"

Since the story was announced, some people have questioned whether Hollyoaks can really do the story justice at 6.30pm. What are your thoughts on that?

"Rape doesn't just happen post watershed. The first time I was ever raped was a Saturday afternoon about 3pm. You don't need to see the actual physical act, or performance, of rape to do the story justice. The focus of the story is on the lead-up to the rape and the after effects. No-one saw me get raped, but many people saw the after-effects.



"I know that Hollyoaks can do this story justice and I am really confident in James and Keith's ability to relay the story. They have both devoured information and notes I have passed to them and stories I have provided."

Lime Pictures

When the storyline was announced, one question which cropped up repeatedly from viewers was how Finn could ever overpower John Paul. Is this something you can explain for those who are asking this?

"This is exactly why this story must be told to this audience who are in at 6.30pm. When I'm training police officers in dealing with male rape victims, I use an example of being debilitated through fear, which is fundamentally how Finn can overpower John Paul.



"The example is attempting to cross the road with a friend, him stepping out in front of an oncoming car and me being frozen to the spot unable to do anything as 'time stands still'. Most people have had an experience like this or similar. How many times do you hear 'I was like a rabbit in the headlights'? That's debilitation through fear. The 'shock' of what is happening renders the individual unable to move. It's a lot more complicated than that but essentially that's it in a nutshell - that's how."

Another question people are asking is why Finn, as a straight character, would want to rape another man. Again, is this something you can explain?

"Yeah, please don't confuse rape with a sexuality or sexual orientation. Rape is all about power and control. It's about the removal of power and control of one by another. In this context, someone using a man's body against his will is someone taking control of his body, someone having the power over his body, someone taking his 'maleness' even.



"The audience need to see that this isn't a straight man raping a gay man, this is a man taking another man's sense of self away from him, leaving him broken and feeling no longer 'like a man'. For a perpetrator, taking another man's maleness could arguably equate to the perpetrator having the greatest power over his victim that he could ever have."

Why do you think it's important to show the audience that the perpetrator who is committing this offence against a male is straight?

"We have got to begin to see what rape is really about - power and control and not sexuality. The myth that when rape is committed against a male it is framed in the context of being connected to being gay has got to be extinguished. Allowing this myth to go unchallenged serves only to increase homophobia within society, which can often result in the physical and psychological damage of gay men.



"It can create even more confusion for the victim, with some men questioning themselves, as if a new question of sexuality has been forced upon them. Rape of males is no more gay then rape of females is straight. We have got to see this for what it is."

How and when did Survivors Manchester first become involved in this storyline?

"Survivors Manchester first became involved in the storyline earlier in the year when one of the Hollyoaks researchers got in touch to say that the show was developing a storyline about male rape and they would like to talk to us about it. I can honestly say that I have been blown away by the level of commitment shown by the Hollyoaks team to telling this story as best and as honestly as they can."



Lime Pictures

How did things progress from there?

"From the start, I have been in regular contact with the researcher and I also offered to meet with anyone involved in this story. I believe that if I can help them understand the issues, then I won't be able to moan that the media have got it wrong or not told the real truth behind the impact on a male victim.



"I met James a couple of times and have talked through real experiences with him, giving him the chance to really drill down with me the impact of a crime like this. I have also met with Keith to talk about the crime itself, giving him some information about the known psychology of sex offenders and offences.

"Additionally, I've met with the director and script editors to talk through some of their ideas and help shape them into fact. I get these wonderful emails on practically a weekly basis with revised scenes asking for my opinion. I feel fully a part of this process and that they really are taking on board many of my comments."

What have James and Keith been like to work with on the story?

"I've spent more time with James, as his character is the victim, and he just 'gets it'. In my previous life, I worked in the theatre and spent many years working directly with actors, some of which always seemed to know 'best'. James and Keith have been the complete opposite.



"I offered them the opportunity to ask me whatever they wanted and they have jumped in with both feet. They have asked me for information, books to read, survivor sites to look at. I even gave them a small piece of film to watch made in the mid 90s - they have devoured it."

Hollyoaks did a similar story with Gary Lucy's character Luke Morgan in a late-night episode in 2000. Having done it before, do you think it's necessary for Hollyoaks to explore the issue a second time?

"For me, this story hasn't been done before. Gary Lucy's character was raped by 'strangers', while John Paul knows the perpetrator and that can result in a different impact. It's that impact that I see as a huge difference - we haven't seen that before, the depth of the impact.



"This story, at this time to this audience, hasn't been done before. In 2000, things were very different in the world. In the past 12 months, we have collectively had to face sexual abuse and rape with all the high-profile cases of sex crimes. We have collectively had to take on a new understanding of victims of sex crimes - it's necessary to explore this issue as many times as it takes to help change perceptions and make it easier for males to step forward and get the help they deserve."

Hollyoaks have promised that this will be a long-running storyline, exploring the consequences for both John Paul and Finn. Based on what you've seen, are you pleased with what their plans are for exploring the aftermath?

"I'm delighted as for me, the most exciting part of this whole storyline is the conversations we've had about Hollyoaks showing the true impact of this event for John Paul.



"For James, the aftermath must be the real challenge as an actor. He will need to get underneath the emotion to portray it as best he can. We've had a number of conversations and I've given him a whole load of things to read and look at that will in some way show what it's like for us, male survivors. When I've spoken to James, he's been willing to ask the difficult questions that are going to provide him with the answers that will help him portray in some way the legacy of rape.

"Keith's challenge is to portray Finn in a way that the audience doesn't dispel him as some kind of cartoon villain. Our conversations have focused on him understanding what it's like for the victim and we have talked through a few different psychological models of perpetrators. I think Keith has a really difficult job and I've told him that. But I've also told him that I think he has a really important job to do."

If the show was to pursue legal repercussions, what would John Paul's chances be of securing a conviction and what would the punishment be for a 16-year-old perpetrator like Finn?

"It's really difficult to say as there are so many variables. I have been in court with clients and thought that a conviction is 100% guaranteed and been shocked at the result. Equally I have been in court with a client and thought that it would be difficult to get a guilty verdict from the jury, and been delighted when they have convicted.



"It's important that people get the opportunity to 'have their day in court' should they want to, but for some people they don't and that's okay too. If John Paul came to my service and was going through the court process, I would support him to get his head around the idea that there may not be a conviction at the end of this process. I would talk with him about the importance of him taking back the power and control through healing.

"Punishment for Finn would more likely be a custodial sentence. The maximum conviction for rape is life imprisonment, but the reality is very different, often just a few years. Sentencing often baffles me."

There's a lot of discussion at the moment about whether the character of Finn needs to be written out in the conclusion to the story. Is this something you as an organisation would have strong feelings on either way?

"It would be so easy to just write Finn off and banish him from Hollyoaks. Maybe the greater challenge, and possibly more interesting challenge, would be to leave him in. The reality for lots of clients that access our service is the person who did this to them is walking the streets, whether that's because they were not convicted, the victim never disclosed, or they have been released from prison."



What do you make of the reaction to the story so far?

"I watched Twitter, Facebook and looked at comments on various websites following the announcement from Hollyoaks and was just fascinated with what was being said. It proved to me that there is still a huge confusion and wealth of myths that surround the topic of rape of males.



"For me, even some of the more 'bad taste' comments had importance as it showed the lack of understanding of the subject. It showed that some people still think that the rape of a male is to do with being gay, it showed that some people still think that it's easy to 'fight them off', it showed that we're not educating young people like we should be doing.

"Over that 24 hour period, our website had over 1,400 visits and people downloading our factsheets and self-help guide. For all those people who say this story shouldn't be done, I'd ask them what that silence is about. Ignoring sexual violation is what enables perpetrators to commit offences. Thank you Hollyoaks for being brave enough to tackle this issue head-on!"

> 'Hollyoaks' plans male rape storyline for John Paul McQueen

> Read more 'Hollyoaks' news and spoilers



Survivors Manchester is available to support adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape. Its website can be found at www.survivorsmanchester.org.uk and its helpline is 0161 236 2182. Local support agencies for all male and female survivors can be found at www.thesurvivorstrust.org. In an emergency, please dial 999.

Digital Spy Soap Scoop video - press play below to watch Amie Parker-Williams reveal gossip on Max's trial and revenge in EastEnders, Amy's Emmerdale exit, a momentous decision in Coronation Street and another Hollyoaks wedding.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io