John Junior

British mental health activist

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John Junior

Junior in 2024

Background information
Also known as| The Duckman
Born|  (1988-10-04) October 4, 1988 (age 36)
Wilmslow, England
Genres|

* British hip hop

Occupations|

* Mental health activist
* Actor
* TikTok creator

Years active| 2019–present

Musical artist

John Junior (born October 4, 1988), also known as The Duckman, is a British mental health activist, actor, and TikTok creator. They are known for their appearance in the documentary series Hollyoaks: IRL.[1][2][3] In November 2019, they founded the mental health movement "John and Charlie's Journey" to raise awareness about suicide and mental illness.[4][5] They travel across the UK accompanied by a stuffed toy named Charlie, which they carry for comfort.[6]

## Background

[edit]

Junior was born with Klinefelter syndrome and began experiencing mental health issues at the age of 11, including low mood and uncertainty about their gender identity.[7] They identify as genderfluid.[8]

## Personal life

[edit]

In 2017, Junior was prescribed sertraline to treat depression and anxiety but stopped taking the medication during the coronavirus lockdown due to side effects.They now manage their mental health with exercise and meditation.[9]

In 2018, following the sudden death of their father from a heart attack, Junior experienced mental health difficulties, including substance misuse and suicidal ideation.They began daily use of alcohol and cocaine and were diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in August 2019.[10][11][12]

Junior lives with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and it causes distress related to food, including a need to eat food using metal tongs.[13] Their OCD has also contributed to suicidal thoughts.[14]

## Activism

[edit]

In 2019, Junior began vlogging on Instagram about their experiences with mental health.[15]

In May 2020, they tested the Samaritans' self-help app during Mental Health Awareness Week.[16] Junior shared their mental health struggles to raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2020.[17]

In November 2019, Junior launched the mental health movement "John and Charlie's Journey".[17] Accompanied by Charlie the Duck, a stuffed toy, they encouraged open conversations about mental health.[18][19]

In September 2020, Junior launched the DBT for All campaign to improve access to dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) through the NHS. The initiative received support from MP Esther McVey, who requested a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall.[20][21]

Junior was invited on stage by Keith Duffy of Boyzone and Brian McFadden of Westlife during a Boyzlife concert in Manchester to speak to about their mental health campaign.[22][23]

## Hollyoaks

[edit]

During the first UK COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Junior experienced suicidal thoughts. They later credited a Hollyoaks suicide storyline with changing their mindset and encouraging them to seek support.[24][25]

In a BBC podcast, Junior and actor Ashley Taylor Dawson discussed a Hollyoaks suicide storyline that Junior credited with saving there life. Dawson who portrays Darren Osborne, was part of the storyline.[26][27]

Royal Television Society North West Awards (November 2022). Jenny Powell, Richard Blackwood, John Junior, Charlie The Duck, Alan Toner, Adam Thomas and Ross Adams (left to right)

In 2021, Channel 4 commissioned Lime Pictures to produce Hollyoaks: IRL, a series of short films featuring real-life stories. Junior appeared in the first episode, titled Hollyoaks Saved My Life, released on 16 June 2021.[28][29] The series was nominated for the BAFTA TV award in the Short Form Programme category in 2022.[30][31][32][33]

Junior was invited by Channel 4 to attend the British Academy Television Awards on 8 May 2022, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London.[34] They were accompanied by Hollyoaks actors Vera Chok and Kieron Richardson.[35]

## Gross Up

[edit]

In February 2022, Junior appeared in episode six of Gross Up, a British factual entertainment series produced by True North Productions and commissioned by E4.[36] The programme follows six participants whose personal belongings are sent to a laboratory for scientific testing to identify viruses and bacteria. In Junior’s episode, microbiologists identified gut bacteria on some of their personal items.[37][38][39]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2021  | Hollyoaks IRL \- Hollyoaks saved my life  | Themself  | Channel 4
2022  | Munya Chawawa \- Race around Britain  | Journalist  | Released on YouTube TV
2022  | The Real Death in Paradise  | Alex  | Discovery Channel
2022  | Gross Up Ep 6[40] | Themself  | E4
2023  | Time For A Check-In[41] | Themself  | Channel 4

## Discography

[edit]

### Singles

[edit]

Title  | Year

|

Inside a BPD mind[42] | 2020

## Radio

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2021  | Hollyoaks suicide storyline saved my life[43] | Themself  | BBC sounds podcast

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Result

|
|
|

2021  | National Diversity Awards | Positive Role Model (Gender)[44] | Nominated
2022  | NDA awards  | Positive role model  | Nominated
2023  | NDA awards  | Positive role model  | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Herman, Daisy (10 April 2022). "BAFTA nomination for mental health series inspired by Cheshire Hollyoaks fan". CheshireLive. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
2. ^ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
3. ^ "Channel 4 Commissions Hollyoaks: IRL A Short-Form Series Of Real-Life Documentaries | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
4. ^ Maidment, Adam (5 June 2020). "How John and Charlie are turning mental health trauma into personal success". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
5. ^ "Male Suicide In England And Wales Is At Its Worst In 20 Years, We Need To Talk About It". www.unilad.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
6. ^ "John and Charlie's journey to end mental health stigma". Knutsford Guardian. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
7. ^ Maidment, Adam (5 June 2020). "How John and Charlie are turning mental health trauma into personal success". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
8. ^ Oldfield, Paige (14 September 2024). "'I don't know what the f*** I am... I don't feel like a man or a woman'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
9. ^ "Antidepressants exit must happen in stages, says medical watchdog". BBC News. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
10. ^ Shaw, Neil (6 January 2025). "'I was 30 minutes from death but Hollyoaks saved my life'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
11. ^ Rowlands, Robert; Shaw, Neil (6 January 2025). "'Hollyoaks saved my life 30 minutes before I was going to end it all'". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
12. ^ Oldfield, Paige (14 September 2024). "'I don't know what the f*** I am... I don't feel like a man or a woman'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
13. ^ Oldfield, Paige (16 September 2023). "'OCD habit means I get stared at and laughed whenever I eat out - it's horrible'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
14. ^ Oldfield, Paige; Shaw, Neil (16 September 2023). "'People stare and laugh wherever I go because of how I have to eat'". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
15. ^ Maidment, Adam (5 June 2020). "How John and Charlie are turning mental health trauma into personal success". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
16. ^ "Samaritans Self-Help App Prevented This Person From Self-Harming". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
17. ^ a b "Male Suicide In England And Wales Is At Its Worst In 20 Years, We Need To Talk About It". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
18. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (22 February 2020). "Real Housewives star is launching a wellness hub after battling anxiety". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
19. ^ "'Its Okay Not To Be Okay' | VIVA UK Lifestyle Magazine". UK Lifestyle Magazine | VIVA Manchester. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
20. ^ "MP supports mental health activist's bid for parliamentary debate". Knutsford Guardian. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
21. ^ "MP to apply for parliamentary debate to support Wilmslow mental health campaigner - wilmslow.co.uk". www.wilmslow.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
22. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (22 February 2020). "Real Housewives star is launching a wellness hub after battling anxiety". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
23. ^ "'Its Okay Not To Be Okay' | VIVA UK Lifestyle Magazine". UK Lifestyle Magazine | VIVA Manchester. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
24. ^ "'Hollyoaks saved my life' – mental health activist features in documentary series". Knutsford Guardian. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
25. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (16 June 2021). "Hollyoaks fan stopped from suicide by soap has met actor who saved their life". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
26. ^ "5 Live News Specials - Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
27. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (1 February 2021). "Lockdown drove me to the brink - but a Hollyoaks storyline saved my life". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
28. ^ Hollyoaks (16 June 2021). From planning their death to being a light for others || Hollyoaks: IRL. Retrieved 16 June 2025 – via YouTube.
29. ^ "Channel 4 Commissions Hollyoaks: IRL A Short-Form Series Of Real-Life Documentaries | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
30. ^ "Bafta TV Awards 2022: The nominations". BBC News. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
31. ^ TV, Guardian (30 March 2022). "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
32. ^ Herman, Daisy (10 April 2022). "BAFTA nomination for mental health series inspired by Cheshire Hollyoaks fan". CheshireLive. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
33. ^ The British Academy Television Awards - 2022: 1. Awards Ceremony - Extended, 8 May 2022, retrieved 18 July 2022
34. ^ "'My story helped so many' - Mental health activist looks back on 'incredible' two years". Knutsford Guardian. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
35. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (9 May 2022). "Soap fan saved from suicide by Hollyoaks walks BAFTA red carpet with their idols". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
36. ^ E4 (2 February 2022). Urine Found On Gamer’s Keyboard | Gross Up | E4. Retrieved 16 June 2025 – via YouTube.`{{cite AV media}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
37. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie; Clay, Milo (6 February 2022). "Cheshire reality TV star's 'disgusting' gaming habit could have been deadly". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
38. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (5 February 2022). "Reality TV star on the 'disgusting' gaming habit that could have killed them". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
39. ^ "Gross Up - True North". www.truenorth.tv. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
40. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (5 February 2022). "Reality TV star on the 'disgusting' gaming habit that could have killed them". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
41. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (15 March 2023). "'I wet the bed and had intrusive thoughts about bathing in Prime'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
42. ^ Inside a BPD Mind - Single by John Junior on Apple Music, 2 July 2020, retrieved 4 November 2024
43. ^ "5 Live News Specials - Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
44. ^ "Wilmslow Suicide survivor nominated for National Diversity Award". Knutsford Guardian. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* John Junior is an Ambassador for SOS silence to suicide

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

Artists|

* MusicBrainz