Terry is portrayed as unlucky in love as writers paired him in doomed relationships with Michelle Jones (Tracy Jay) and Vicki Cleary (Cheryl Leigh).

[6] In his book, Brookside: The Official Companion, show creator Phil Redmond wrote that Terry is characterised as a "scallywag" type.

[1] The author of Life in the Close, Geoff Tibballs assessed that Terry was "forever unlucky in love" and has "many business exploits".

He treats women differently to early stereotypes of men who expect their dinner on the table in the evening by carrying out house chores.

[6] She dislikes Terry's friendship with Barry and believes he is only interested in Michelle's new found wealth following the death of their sister, Petra Taylor (Alexandra Pigg).

Local gangster Tommy McArdle (Malcolm Tierney) and his associate Victor Scott (Robbie Dee) force Terry and Barry to provide them with an alibi.

[15] Terry then moves into the house share set-up at Harry Cross' (Bill Dean) property, alongside Pat Hancock (David Easter) and Sandra Maghie (Sheila Grier) following Kate Moses' (Sharon Rosita) death in a gun siege.

Terry and Pat secure the Hentyainments contract from Mike Henty (Paul Humpoletz) but their business soon begins being targeted by a rival hire company.

Miles believed that not filming a wedding ceremony was a "missed opportunity" and Regan thought it made resulted in a "cheap production" of their storyline.

"[5] In another interview, Regan assessed that Terry's characterisation meant that discovering Sue's deception would make him question their entire relationship.

[5] From September 1989, writers portrayed Terry fulfilled and enjoying his role as a father as he looks forward to returning home from work each day to his new family.

[22] Regan was required to film new scenes by himself, including throwing a pan of hot fat onto the kitchen floor and pretending to approach Barry with a knife.

[22] ITC reviewers requested to view the episode and they decided that it would be acceptable to broadcast the knife scenes during the Friday night timeslot but not during the Sunday omnibus edition.

After four months, Barry decides he wants to return home but is worried that Terry will inform the police about Sue and Danny's deaths.

[27] Pelka told a TVTimes reporter that Anna cannot proceed with the marriage because she "didn't want to use Terry, so she broke of their engagement when she realised he was in love with her.

[29] Terry also becomes concerned about Jack's relationship with Julia Brogan (Gladys Ambrose) after discovering his mother, Mary (Sally Treble) who he had presumed was dead was actually still alive.

[12][29] Due to the press interest in Regan, he was pictured filming a "fierce" argument scene with Jack outside the shops on the Brookside parade set.

Julia Houston from BBC News described Terry as a "loveable rogue" from Brookside's "1980s heyday", adding his "antics were regularly watched by up to seven million viewers a week.

[31] Journalists Michael Mutch and Victoria Scheer (Huddersfield Daily Examiner) described Terry as one of the show's "leading roles" for fifteen years.

[32] In March 2012, Jane Merrick of The Independent stated that comedian John Bishop was fast becoming the UK's favourite Scouser.

Merrick thought Bishop was not a scouse stereotype and predicted that in future decades people would actually remember Terry Sullivan as the UK's most memorable Scouser.

She explained that "once, his trademark Kevin Keegan perm and hairy caterpillar moustache made him a surprise heart-throb for millions of female viewers.

[42] Marianne Jones from The Telegraph said the "scallywag fashion" trend had been "lampooned" in British culture, using Enfield's mocking of Terry and Barry as a prime example.

[43] Terry and Barry's long endured on-screen partnership was profiled in Lorna Hughes' (Liverpool Echo) feature on Brookside's "best couples".

Hughes called them "besties" who "had a true but deeply dysfunctional friendship, which somehow survived Barry being responsible for the death of Terry's wife Sue and son Danny.

She included the duo trying to sink their car, their violent beach showdown and Terry's involvement in the cult as some of Brookside's most memorable storylines.

[35] Nick Fisher from TV Guide assessed that over seven years, Terry had transformed from "wide-boy scallywag to married Mr Nice Guy.

[5] Fisher added that "whatever" Terry became, it was met with approval of women because "it seems that Sullivan has evolved into the New Scouse Man; the caring, sharing, non-macho marvel of every girl's dreams.

"[9] The Daily Mirror's James Moore and Claire Goldwin chose Terry's "top storyline" as his wife and child being murdered.

[47] Closer's Katy Brent chose a "brainwashed" Terry in the cult story as one of the thirty-four reasons Brookside made "totally brilliant telly".