| Terry Sullivan | |||||||||||||||||
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| Brookside character | |||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Brian Regan | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1982–1997 | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 17 November 1982 | ||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 12 February 1997 | ||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Phil Redmond | ||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Brookside: The Lost Weekend (1997) | ||||||||||||||||
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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. At the time of his departure, Regan was Brookside's longest serving cast member. Terry became one of Brookside's most iconic characters and was recognisable via his trademark curly permed hair and moustache. Terry also became known as one of soap opera's most unlucky characters because of his numerous storylines involving trauma, loss and heart-break. Writers created an on-screen partnership between Terry and Barry Grant (Paul Usher). Their friendship is endured for their entire tenure. Their characterisation was the inspiration for the comedy sketches titled The Scousers, which appeared in the television show, Harry Enfield's Television Programme.
Terry is portrayed as unlucky in love as writers paired him in doomed relationships with Michelle Jones (Tracy Jay) and Vicki Cleary (Cheryl Leigh). His later relationship with Sue Harper (Annie Miles) became a prominent storyline. The pair marry after she becomes pregnant with a son, Danny (Keiran Poole). Sue deceives Terry into believing he is the child's father and later discovers the truth. Writers continued to destroy the Sullivan marriage by creating a sexual affair between Sue and Barry. Sue and Danny were killed off in a mystery "Whodunit" story to celebrate the show's 1000th episode. Producers kept the identity of Sue's killer a secret and included Terry in the official suspects. Barry was later revealed as the killer, which tested their lifelong friendship once Terry discovered the truth. Producers planned violent content for Terry and Barry's showdown after he discovers his friend's betrayal. The episode featuring Terry's violence was one of the show's most difficult to produce due to production blunders. It was also controversial and condemnation from the Independent Television Commission forced a reshoot and a mellowed reaction from Terry.