- He was originally cast as the lead in the ITV's "Sharpe" series of television movies but ruptured a cruciate ligament playing football a few days into the shooting of Sharpe's Rifles (1993) in the Ukraine. Due to a misdiagnosis he continued for weeks, unwittingly causing more damage. He was replaced in the role by Sean Bean, who starred not only in Sharpe's Rifles (1993) but the other thirteen films as well. Bean's replacement of McGann triggered the largest insurance settlement in British television history...a value of £2,128,172.
- He replaced Sylvester McCoy when he became the official Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who (1996). The film was a failed attempt to relaunch Doctor Who (1963) as an ongoing series. Although it was a ratings hit in the UK, it flopped in the United States. Nevertheless, his performance was well-received and he went on to reprise the role in audio adventures.
- He narrated the audio book versions of several of Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's" novels.
- He has played two protagonists whose name is never revealed in Withnail and I (1987) and Doctor Who (1996).
- In 1998, he was involved, along with Sherilyn Fenn, Kate Winslet, Rufus Sewell and Miranda Richardson in the film project "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline". The film was to be executive produced by Emma Thompson, and written and directed by Fay Efrosini Lellios. The shooting was set to start in June 1998 in New Hampshire. The film was canceled due to financial withdrawal.
- He was considered as a replacement for Michael Praed when Praed left the TV series Robin of Sherwood (1984), but lost to Jason Connery.
- In 2005, he was living in Clifton, Bristol, UK.
- Graduated from RADA in 1981 and spent many years working in the theatre.
- He trained at RADA.
- In the television production of The Hanging Gale he acted along side his 3 brothers.
- Born in Everton, Liverpool his first film break was in a documentary drama set in Merseyside.
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