Hollyoaks fan John Junior from Cheshire has opened up to Ashley Taylor Dawson, the actor who plays Darren Osborne in Hollyoaks, on BBC Radio 5 Live about how a suicide storyline in the soap saved their life.

Speaking on 5 Live Drive, 32-year-old John thanked Ashley and said: “If that storyline hadn’t happened I would not be here. I’d be dead. That’s the reality of it. You have saved my life.”

John was struggling with suicidal thoughts in lockdown last year. After watching the friends and family’s reaction of character Kyle ending his life in the soap, it “hit home” and encouraged John to open up about their feelings and seek mental health support.

This was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live Drive on Tuesday 19 January 2021

Click below, to watch the short video we filmed 

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p094k80k

If you, or someone you know needs help, you can find details about how to access support by searching for ‘BBC Action Line’ or go to www.bbc.co.uk/actionline