Brendan (Mac) McGuire

### Cause/ Reason

Moved to Ireland, after Julia orders him and Kate to leave when she discovers he had an affair with Kate.

## Relationships

### Spouses

Julia Parsons (1968–1993, 2004–2007)Kate McGuire (1995–2002)

### Sons

Patrick McGuireLiam McGuire

Ciaran McGuire

## About

**Dr. Brendan "Mac" McGuire**, portrayed by Christopher Timothy, first appeared on 26 March 2000, and made his last appearance on 26 May 2006.[9]

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), and daughter Samantha. In 1995, Mac marries Kate (Maggie Cronin), with whom he has one son, Ciaran (Tomas Hughes), whose birth led to Mac becoming an alcoholic. This marriage only lasted seven years when in 2002, Kate has an affair with a priest, resulting in Mac having a heart attack. The near-death experience resulted in Mac confiding in Julia. Mac then remarries Julia in 2004, but the pair divorce in 2007. Mac becomes friends with Dr Peter Kendrick (Robert Cavanah), however Peter became depressed and soon committed suicide. On 26 May 2006, Mac leaves Letherbridge, moving to Ireland, after Julia orders him and Kate to leave when she discovers he had an affair with Kate.

## Development and reception

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 really want it to be a success".[1] Described as a "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".[1] 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".[10] 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 in his surgery but I didn’t really watch procedures. The actual procedures – how to take blood pressure and that sort of thing – I picked up as I went along".[11] He added that; "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".[11] 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!".[1] *TV Choice*'s Nick Fiaca commented that Julia had a "torrid time" with Mac.[12] In 2010, producer Peter Eryl Lloyd was asked by Digital Spy if Mac was to return, in which he replied, "I don't know why we'd do that unless there was a very good reason. The show has moved on since Chris was with us so I don't think anyone would want the character back just out of nostalgia. But if it's motivated, if it has an impact on our characters and makes sense dramatically, then never say never".[13] *The British Theatre Guide*, said Mac was "very successful".[11]