# Mac McGuire

Dr. Mac McGuire is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Christopher Timothy. Series creator Mal Young introduced Mac as one of the nine original regular characters on the soap. He works as a general practitioner and surgery partner at the fictional Riverside Medical Centre and is shown to be an old-fashioned, headstrong and respected doctor who is unafraid to speak his thoughts. Timothy remained in the role until 2006.
Timothy's tenure saw many of Doctors' storylines revolve around Mac and his professional and personal life. These included his rocky marriage with Kate McGuire (Maggie Cronin), who eventually cheats on him, becoming an alcoholic after the birth of his son and his romance with Julia Parsons (Diane Keen). When Timothy decided to leave Doctors, an affair was implemented between himself and Kate, which sees Julia end their relationship and Mac move to Ireland. In 2024, Timothy reprised his role as Mac after it was announced that Doctors was to cease production that year. He appeared in two episodes as part of a storyline that sees Mac suffering from dementia. Mac was described as "very successful" by The British Theatre Guide, and Timothy received four nominations for the British Soap Award for Best Actor for his role as Mac.

## Development

In the press release for Doctors in March 2000, Timothy was said to be "thrilled" to be on the show, adding: "On set, there's an amazing sense of drama and commitment from everyone around. People want it to be a success". Described as an "old-fashioned and highly-respected physician who isn't afraid to speak his mind", Timothy added that Brendan (known to his colleagues as Mac) is "James Herriot grown older." In an interview with Sussex Life, Timothy stated of his time on Doctors that he loved "the dramatic standards achieved by the fast-paced series, despite the kind of squeeze on time and resources unheard of," adding, "The budget was a joke and the pressure more intense than anything I’d ever experienced. But it was six years of great fun, and I got to direct, which I loved". When asked if he had picked up any medical knowledge from the role, he said, "No, not really. I spent a week with a real vet in Yorkshire and a day with a real GP during his surgery, but I didn't watch procedures. The actual procedures – how to take blood pressure and that sort of thing – I picked up as I went along". He added: "Working in something like Doctors, you learn your lines, you say the scene and then forget them because you then have to remember another scene and another scene." Head of Drama Mal Young said Timothy sat in a consultation room for a day, adding that people were "very good and mostly unfazed by the sight of an actor listening, they were very understanding, especially one woman who came in to talk about hormone replacement therapy!".
In 2010, producer Peter Eryl Lloyd was asked by Digital Spy if Mac might return, to which he replied: "I don't know why we'd do that unless there were a very good reason. The show has moved on since [Christopher Timothy] was with us, so I don't think anyone would want the character back just out of nostalgia. But if it's motivated, impacts our characters, and makes sense dramatically, then never say never". Mac was eventually reintroduced into the series in 2024 for a two-episode guest appearance after news of Doctors' cancellation by the BBC. He appears at the Mill with Alzheimer's disease, believing that he is still a practising doctor there. Initially, none of the staff recognise Mac due to not having worked with him, until Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan), the only character to have crossed Mac's tenure, recognises him and helps out. The episodes also facilitated a return for Mac's son, Ciaran (Ross McShane), who helps him back to Dublin.

## Storylines

Mac is twice married, first to Julia Parsons (Diane Keen) in 1968, to whom he had three children: sons Patrick (Alan McKenna) and Liam (Tim Matthews), as well as daughter Samantha. This marriage breaks down after Mac has an affair with a drug sales representative. In the early 1990s, Mac marries Kate (Maggie Cronin), with whom he has one son, Ciaran, whose traumatic birth leads to Mac becoming an alcoholic. This marriage lasts just over 10 years when Kate has an affair with a priest, Father David Quinn (Richard Standing). Kate leaves Mac, taking Ciaran with her, which results in Mac having a heart attack. The near-death experience leads to ex-wife Julia coming back into his life, and the two resume their relationship. Mac then remarries Julia. Mac becomes friends with Peter Kendrick (Robert Cavanah); however, Peter becomes depressed and ends his own life. In 2006, Mac leaves Letherbridge, moving to Ireland after Julia orders him and Kate to leave when she discovers he had an affair with Kate, and they divorce the following year.
Mac arrives at the Mill Health Centre 18 years after his exit, confused about why he cannot find physical patient records. Despite retiring years prior, Mac has dementia and believes he is still a doctor. He finds himself in people's offices and treating patients, with staff and patients unaware that he is suffering from memory loss. Jimmi, the only remaining staff member from Mac's time at the Mill, recognises him and contacts Ciaran, who collects Mac and assists him back to Dublin.

## Reception

TV Choice's Nick Fiaca wrote that Julia had a "torrid time" with Mac. The British Theatre Guide said Mac was "very successful." At the 2003 British Soap Awards, Timothy was nominated for Best Actor but lost to Brian Capron, who played Coronation Street's Richard Hillman. Again, in 2004 and 2005, he was nominated for Best Actor, but Shane Richie, who plays EastEnders Alfie Moon, won both the 2004 and 2005 awards. In the 2006 awards, he was nominated for "Best Actor" but lost to Ross Kemp, who played EastEnders's Grant Mitchell. In the same 2006 awards, Timothy and Robert Cavanah, who played Dr Peter Kendrick, were nominated for Best Storyline, in which Kendrick committed suicide; however, Justin Burton (Chris Fountain) and Becca Hayton's (Ali Bastian) affair in Hollyoaks won.