Imran Adams says his ‘Hollyoaks’ storyline has helped someone who was "contemplating suicide" before watching the plot unfold.
The soap star’s sexuality storyline has seen his character Mitchell Deveraux’s true feelings come out when he is around Scott Drinkwell’s (Ross Adams) drag alter-ego Anita Tinkle, despite him being in a relationship with Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), and Imran is delighted at the plot’s positive real-life impact.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I’ve had someone say they were contemplating suicide but this storyline has seen themselves in either Mitchell or Scott.
"I’ve had people say they’ve been through the same thing. So I feel this storyline as much as it is unique, it’s definitely mainstream.
"It’s been really, really intense and overwhelming.
"I’ve had so many messages from people saying they’ve resonated with it. DMs, people stopping me in the street, because as much as it is an LGBT storyline I think everyone can relate to it."
And Imran has hinted the plot will be around "for a while".
Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards, he added: "Trying to be someone you’re not to try to impress someone, for a job or likes on Instagram, I feel like it’s a storyline that’s going to stick around for a while."
Imran recently admitted he has been "overwhelmingly pleased" by the positive reaction to his ‘Hollyoaks’ sexuality storyline.
He said: "I feel like people are understanding that if they replace judgement with compassion and empathy, they can see we all are Mitchell, we all are Scott, we all are Cleo at some point in our lives. This love triangle is very new and unique, but I feel like it’s paying off and helping a lot of people."