Stephen McGann arrived in Emmerdale during the 1990s and wasted no time in getting under the skin of iconic characters including Zak and Cain Dingle – he was also handy with his fists

Stephen McGann is adored for his portrayal of Dr. Patrick Turner in Call the Midwife, but he once appeared on Emmerdale during the 1990s and his character was a whole lot of drama.

The 61-year-old actor has played the loveable Dr. Turner on the hit BBC period drama since the show launched in 2012. But before arriving in 1960s Poplar as the kind-hearted GP, Stephen was a soap star who played the role of love rat Sean Reynolds in Emmerdale.

The Reynolds family made quite the splash when they first moved to the Dales back in 1999. Sean first arrived with his wife Angie (Freya Copeland), their son Marc (Anthony Lewis), and daughter Ollie (Vicky Binns).

They were later joined by Sean’s father Len (Peter Martin) following the off-screen death of his mother Eileen.

Stephen as Sean Reynolds in Emmerdale (Image: Yorkshire TV)

After locking horns with Chris Tate (Peter Amory) and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), Sean made a few enemies in and around the village, and drama quickly ensued.

In one exciting scene, Sean is enraged when he sees Cain enjoying a beer outside of The Woolpack and violently attacks him with a punch to the face.

Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) tries to hold Sean back as Sam Dingle (James Hooton) confirmed his brother Cain has been having an affair with Angie Reynolds.

Sean Reynolds was played by Stephen McGann (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In another scene, Sean lashed out at Richie Carter (Glenn Lamont) after accusing him of also having an affair with his wife after spotting them in a romantic clinch.

It will come as no surprise that the haulage firm owner later split from his wife Angie, but Sean was responsible following an affair with Lady Tara Thornfield (Anna Brecon). Sean and Tara had tried to resist the temptation of romance for the sake of his children Marc and Ollie.

But the pair eventually gave in to their mutual attraction and decided to leave the Dales together to begin a new life in Chester. Stephen’s final scenes as Sean Reynolds aired in January 2002.

Stephen McGann as Dr Patrick Turner in Call The Midwife (Image: BBC / Neal Street Productions / Olly Courtenay)

Aside from Emmerdale and Call the Midwife, Stephen has starred in a long list of popular television shows and movies, including Brookside, Bergerac, Streetwise, Catherine the Great, Doctors, The Bill, and Casualty – to name a few!

Stephen McGann will return as Dr. Turner in the new episode of Call the Midwife on Christmas Day.

Emmerdale airs weekdays from 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX