Eoin Macken
Eoin Macken in "The Night Shift" (NBC)

Eoin Macken misses ‘Merlin;’ enjoys ‘The Night Shift’

Eoin Macken misses his co-stars from “Merlin,” but the Irish actor says he’s currently working with an equally fun cast on “The Night Shift.”

“I’ve actually been really lucky,” Macken told me April 25 at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. “I’m used to working with nice people.”

Eoin Macken
TC Callahan (Eoin Macken) and Jordan Alexander (Jill Flint) are working things out on “The Night Shift.” (NBC)

Although NBC’s Monday night medical drama “The Night Shift” is an ensemble piece, Macken’s Dr. TC Callahan seems to stand out. The war veteran has suffered from PTSD and his go-for-broke approach to caring for his patients. TC puts his own life or career on the line to save someone, as you can see in the preview to the April 27 episode below.

TC also is a fan favorite for his romance with fellow doctor Jordan Alexander, played by Jill Flint. On that front, Macken said TC is working things out now that the couple is having a baby together.

“He’s trying to be there more than he would have been in the past,” he said.

“Merlin” fans—many of whom queued up to meet him at c2e2—remember Macken as the gallant Sir Gwaine in the popular British import. Macken has fond memories of working with the band of brothers who played the Knights of the Roundtable in the series, but even 2 1/2 years later they keep in touch.

“A lot of us talk all the time,” he said. “We had a really nice group … We’re all still very tight.”

He had been texting with Adetomiwa Edun (Sir Elyan) and Tom Hopper (Sir Percival) before we chatted at c2e2, he said, and recently spoke with Bradley James (Arthur) and Alexander Vlahos (Mordred).

“Yeah, I miss hanging out with those guys,” Macken said.

Now Macken hangs out with his co-stars from “The Night Shift” while filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including Flint and Chicago native Freddy Rodriguez. Macken once told Rodriguez that his 2005 film “Harsh Times” helped inspire Macken’s acting career. Watch what both men had to say about the comment in the video below.

“The Night Shift” airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on NBC. Click for Freddy Rodriguez video interviews.