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.

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 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.

[2] 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.

"[1] 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!".

[2] 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.

[6] 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.

"[1] At the 2003 British Soap Awards, Timothy was nominated for Best Actor but lost to Brian Capron, who played Coronation Street's Richard Hillman.