Terry Sullivan (Brookside)

Terry Sullivan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Brookside'', played by Brian Regan. One of the show's original characters, Terry debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 17 November 1982. Regan appeared in the show between 1982 and 1997.

Development

Introduction and characterisation

Brian Regan, a former footballer turned actor took on the role of Terry in 1982. Terry is one of the show's original characters and he debuted on-screen during the sixth episode broadcast on 17 November 1982. Terry was originally a recurring character but Regan was promoted to the show's regular cast the following year. Regan has stated that joining the cast of ''Brookside'' in his mid-twenties gave him the "cotton-wool feeling of security" like when he was at school.

When Terry was introduced, he was not living on Brookside Close and resided on the local housing estate. In early episodes, writers established a close friendship with Barry Grant (Paul Usher). Tibballs 1994, p.84. In his book, ''Brookside: The Official Companion'', show creator Phil Redmond wrote that Terry is characterised as a "scallywag" type. Redmond 1987, p.98. Writers often portrayed Terry as an unlucky-in-love character with numerous failed relationships. The author of ''Life in the Close'', Geoff Tibballs assessed that Terry was "forever unlucky in love" and has "many business exploits". Tibballs 1994, p.36. Tibballs 1994, p.37. Regan believed that he and Terry had different personalities but shared some similarities. Regan told Caro Thompson from ''TVTimes'' that "in other ways I'm not like Terry at all. I think I'm much more aggressive than he is. He's so easy-going he's a pushover. Although underneath, he's quite strong and if he's pushed too far he'll snap."

Annie Miles, who plays Terry's later wife, Sue Sullivan described him as a "nice fella" with a "big heart". He treats women differently to early stereotypes of men who expect their dinner on the table in the evening by carrying out house chores. Terry's "nice and kind" characterisation made him popular with female viewers. Regan recalled that a female viewers told him that she and her friendship group wished they could find a man like Terry. Regan enjoyed playing Terry more after realising the appeal of his genuine persona. Regan has stated that he disliked portraying Terry's "lovey-dovey" scenes because he was bashful and often got embarrassed with large crews around filming Terry's romantic scenes. Regan told Nick Fisher from ''TV Guide'' that Terry had transformed into a mature character via fatherhood. He thought that during Terry's early storylines, he had allowed himself to suffer and let women destroy his life. Regan wanted Terry to become more "gangster" and a "bastard" even though he retained his "soft spot" traits. Producers also explored Terry's character further with the introduction of his father, Jack Sullivan played by William Maxwell. He becomes known to take part in fraudulent activities and near criminal activity. Redmond 1987, p.96.

Terry's image is something that Regan himself developed. The character became known for his moustache and curly hair, which Regan grew especially for Terry's on-screen image. He originally grew a moustache because he was told his faced looked "soft" and "girly". He believed it made the character appear more "macho". Regan added that if he stopped playing Terry, he would shave off his moustache.

Early relationships

Writers created Terry's first relationship with Michelle Jones (Tracy Jay). Her sister, Marie Jackson (Anna Keaveney) takes a dislike to Terry. 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). Michelle is a trainee beautician and wants to better herself, she takes it upon herself to make Terry look more presentable.

Michelle's brother-in-law, George Jackson (Cliff Howells) is framed for a robbery he did not commit. Local gangster Tommy McArdle (Malcolm Tierney) and his associate Victor Scott (Robbie Dee) force Terry and Barry to provide them with an alibi. This creates issues for the couple but Terry cannot defy McArdle because he fears violent retaliation. Tibballs 1994, p.85. Terry and Barry later try to help George by striking a deal with police to implicate McArdle, but George is imprisoned regardless. McArdle retaliates by having Terry and Barry attacked. Terry is beaten more severely and spends time in hospital on an intensive care unit.

When Marie moves away with her family, Terry and Michelle live together at the house. Michelle becomes bored and begins to attend dance classes. Michelle develops an attraction to her dance instructor, Richard de Saville (Robert Dallas). Terry was uneasy about their association because he knew Richard as a working as brick layer under the name, Albert Duff. Terry becomes secretive around Michelle and she discovers he is working at a nightclub belonging to McArdle. Michelle is upset with Terry's betrayal and writers created a feeling of mistrust between the duo. Michelle begins an affair with Richard and Terry later discovers them having sex in his home. Michelle asks Terry for forgiveness but he refuses and throws their mattress out of the window and violently attacks it with a carving knife. The incident makes Michelle realise their relationship had ended and she goes to live with Marie and Terry moves out too. Tibballs 1994, p.86.

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. Tibballs 1994, p.33. Writers also portrayed Terry settling into a new relationship with Vicki Cleary (Cheryl Leigh). Terry becomes close friends with Pat and they begin a van hire business together. Terry and Pat secure the Hentyainments contract from Mike Henty (Paul Humpoletz) but their business soon begins being targeted by a rival hire company. They create fake jobs and vandalise Terry's van to seek revenge. Vicki introduces herself to Terry and reveals that her family business are behind the disruption and blame him for losing the work contract. Terry begins dating Vicki but Pat refuses to forget the Cleary's actions and enlists the help of Barry. They attack Vicki's brothers, Joe ( Con O'Neill) and Eddie Cleary (Phillip Walsh). In another incident, Pat and Barry vandalise a van they mistakenly believe belongs to the Cleary's. Terry and Pat's business becomes successful but their rivalry with Vicki's brothers make it difficult. Terry's presence in the house share begins to annoy Sandra who thinks Pat behaves differently around Terry.

Terry later becomes involved with McArdle once again after he is pressured to carry out further criminal activity. McArdle orders Terry to take his mother on a trip to Barbados. She acts as a courier for McArdle and hides a package in her suitcase and gets Terry to go through customs with it. With Sandra moved out of the house share, they invite Mike and Mick to move in with them for extra rent money. Mike's charming behaviour irritates Pat and Mick's pet macaw creates a noise problem. Vicki soon becomes annoyed with the lodgers and they are evicted. They remained together for more than one year until writers separated them. Hayward 1991, p.26. She becomes annoyed with Pat and gives Barry an ultimatum that either he evicts Pat and ends their business partnership, or she will not move in with him. Terry is hesitant to betray his friend and a tiring Vicki breaks-up with Terry. Another failed relationship followed with croupier Alison Fernie (Ellie Darvill). When Harry grows tired of Pat and Terry in his home, he pays off Pat to leave. He then tries to sell the house to Alison but she decides to leave Terry and return to her ex-husband. Harry's actions leave Terry alone without a home.

Marriage and betrayal

Terry moves in with his neighbour, Jonathan Gordon-Davies (Steven Pinner) and meets his secretary Sue Harper. They soon begin a relationship and he becomes a taxi driver going into business with Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick). Terry's non-stereotypical male persona made him a suitable partner for Sue. Miles told Fiona Gibson from ''TV Guide'' that Terry "Terry's gorgeous, irresistible, Terry will do the dishes and the ironing. I mean with some fellas the tea's got to be on the table hasn't it? He's a nice fella. He's got a big heart."

When Terry and Sue decide to have a break from each other, Sue gets drunk and has sex with her lawyer friend, Martin. She resumes her romance with Terry but discovers she is pregnant. Sue continuing with her pregnancy and marriage plans after her infidelity created a gender divide with viewers. Miles revealed that male viewers thought Sue was a "tart" and female viewers thought Sue was "brave". Miles defended her character's lies, noting than men were often unfaithful to their partners. She added that thousands of people could relate to Sue's predicament after they have got drunk and had sex with someone else. Miles wished that Sue had been honest with Terry after but noted the story would have no longer been compulsive viewing. Regan was happy with the story because it was more interesting than acting out filler scenes. He told Gibson that it "keeps me on my toes, like". When Regan was out in public he had viewers shouting at him that Terry is not the biological father of Sue's baby. Regan and Miles knew each other prior to working together on ''Brookside''. They supported each other through their characters' "traumatic" storyline.

Terry and Sue's wedding does not occur on-screen but their wedding reception, complete with marquee is shown after. 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. Though, Regan added he was happy that Terry and Sue didn't have a overly-glamorised wedding like the union between the ''Neighbours'' characters Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Robinson (Kylie Minogue) had.

Regan hoped that Terry discovering the truth about Sue's infidelity would change Terry into a more sinister character. He explained that "sometimes I'd really like Terry to be a bastard, I was thinking maybe he could turn gangster if he finds out the baby's not his. He could become totally ruthless because he's been crapped on a lot of times." He described Sue's betrayal as the "ultimate" form which could result in Terry going "berserk - he could even kill someone." In another interview, Regan assessed that Terry's characterisation meant that discovering Sue's deception would make him question their entire relationship. Terry would wonder if Sue has married him to give her child a father. Sue gives birth to a baby boy, Daniel (Keiran Poole). Regan told Fisher that working on-set with a baby made him broody and wanted to begin his own family. Regan assessed that Terry's characterisation meant that discovering Sue's deception would make him wonder if Sue has married him to give Daniel a father. Regan believed Terry's fatherhood story completely changed his characterisation. He described Terry as being a "big boy now" who has "matured a hell of a lot." He believed it altered Terry to the extent it was "almost like playing another character".

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. Regan described Terry as a devoted father who is really involved with Daniel's upbringing. Sue feels guilty over her deception and wants Terry to have his own biological child. She asks Terry if they can try to have another child and he agrees. Producers reintroduced Martin into the story to create more drama. Miles believed that Martin's return created an issue because Sue has "strong chemistry" with Martin. She told Caro Thompson (''TVTimes'') that Martin being the father of her child means "she can't help being attracted to him." Though Sue's love of Terry is genuine and Miles believed Sue probably would have married him had she not been pregnant. Miles concluded that "I know it's hard, but the longer she leaves it, the harder it gets. I just couldn't be as deceptive as she's been, I'd have to tell."

By episodes in June 1990, Terry seeks help from doctors because Sue does not get pregnant again. He believes something may have changed but is not worried because they already have Daniel. Terry is called back to the hospital for further tests which begins to worry him. Barry reassures Terry that there will be nothing wrong with him because of Daniel's existence. However, the tests later reveal that Terry is unable to have children of his own. Regan told Thompson that the storyline was "wonderful" but "tough at times". He revealed that he had been staying up late until 3 AM in the morning reading his scripts and deliberating how to portray Terry's heartache. Regan assessed that "it's difficult to put yourself in Terry's shoes. He's being lied to and deceived by his wife. It's a terrible thing to happen to anyone." He noted that Terry endured much "heartache" during his early years but discovering that Daniel is not his son is "the worst thing that's ever happened to him." Regan correctly predicted that Sue's deceit would have an ever lasting effect on Terry. He described his character as being "devastated, in complete shock" and believed he would "go crazy" and "off the rails" resulting in Terry being a "changed man forever".

Terry ends his long-standing friendship with Barry, after which producers wrote Barry out of the show temporarily and rested the story. Barry flees to Madrid and hides out while Terry tries to accept the circumstances of his wife's death. 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. Usher told '' TV Quick's'' Jane Cameron that "relations between them are quite strained, to say the least." Barry decides that a personal meeting with Terry is the best option and invites him to visit him in Spain.

Terry's next potential love interest is Polish immigrant Anna Wolska (Kazia Pelka). Terry and Anna become friends while she is residing in the United Kingdom to study English. Once her studies and visa expire, Anna is supposed to return to Poland. She decides to remain in the country illegally and cannot work. Anna decides that she must marry a British national in order to stay in the UK. Terry agrees to a marriage of convenience but soon develops genuine feelings for Anna. 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." Anna then decides to marry Barry instead but Terry tries to warn Anna about Barry's violent past. This makes Anna wonder whether she made a mistake cancelling her plans with Terry. Pelka explained added "Barry is clever and devious, and he's certainly not Anna's type. She's attracted to sensitive men and she appreciates Terry's concern for her."

Reception

Nick Fisher from ''TV Guide'' assessed that over seven years, Terry had transformed from "wide-boy scallywag to married Mr Nice Guy." He believed Terry had "endearing qualities" of "maturity and rugged stability". 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." ''TVTimes'' Caro Thompson branded Terry a "sweet" and "unsuspecting" character. Of Sue's betrayal of Terry, Thompson added "the nail biting will-she, won't-she tell saga has had millions of Brookside viewers taking sides as the complicated web of Sue's deceit has spun her and Terry into an increasingly impossible situation." Thompson described the reveal of Daniel's father and subsequent fallout a "compelling drama which will have viewers glued to their screens."

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Terry
Brookside characters
Fictional construction workers
Television characters introduced in 1982