Channel 4 has commissioned Lime Digital to produce a series of short films on the people affected by the issues addressed by Hollyoaks.
The series, ‘Hollyoaks: IRL’, covers real-life stories and features individuals whose lived experiences have informed the continuing drama’s most vital storylines, as well as those whose lives have been affected by watching Hollyoaks.
It launches with a preview of the first episode today – during Men’s Mental Health Week – with a story about John Junior and their struggles with mental health. John Junior had planned to take their own life but was stopped after seeing the topic and its impact addressed on Hollyoaks.
In the episode, John Junior meets actor Ashley Taylor Dawson. In the drama Taylor Dawson plays Darren Osborne, the best friend of someone who dies by suicide.
Each edition is previewed on Snapchat on Tuesdays, and will be followed by the full episode released across Channel 4 social media channels on Wednesday.
In total Hollyoaks: IRL comprises five multi-platform episodes exploring the issues of depression and suicide, county lines child exploitation, disability, eating disorders, and conversion therapy, which have been addressed in Hollyoaks recently.
