Gus Smith
| Gus Smith | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | 2002–2008 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 28 May 2002 | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | John Yorke | ||||||||||
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Augustus "Gus" Smith is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He is played by Mohammed George, and made his first appearance on 28 May 2002.
It was announced on 18 January 2008 that Gus will leave the show later in 2008. This was a mutual decision between George and the producers.[1]
Gus is a sensitive man, who enjoys writing love poems, though he has been unlucky in love and has been used by many people. He is a lesser-used character in EastEnders; usually being used as support for other storylines rather than being given his own. However he was given a more central role in storylines in the month leading up to his two-month suspension exit.
Storylines
Gus first arrived in Walford in May 2002, working as a trader for a bed company. It was here that he met Sonia Jackson, and they had a series of disagreements about a bed that her grandfather Jim had bought. Gus eventually fell in love with Sonia, and after she broke up with her boyfriend Jamie Mitchell, they got together. Sonia later broke up with Gus and got back together with Jamie. In July 2002, Gus was joined in Walford by his troublesome brother Juley.
After his employment with the bed company ended, Gus took on the role as the local road sweeper. Gus was also given Wellard the dog when his friend Robbie Jackson left London for India.
When friends Martin and Vicki Fowler broke into the Minute Mart, Gus investigated, was caught red handed by police and was left to take the blame.
In December 2003, Gus took a trip in a minibus to Scotland with Zoe Slater, Kelly Taylor, Mickey Miller, Spencer Moon, Sonia, Martin, Vicki, Tariq Larousi and Ronny and Kareena Ferreira. When the bus crashed on a moor, nearly killing Zoe, Gus, aided by Wellard, managed to find help for his stranded friends.
In 2004, Gus disposed of a handgun he found in Juley's bag. Juley's involvement in crime, including the theft of some charity money, lead to his departure from Walford in April 2005, though he returned in September for a trip to France with Gus, Mickey, Garry Hobbs and Minty Peterson. While in France, Gus met Mickey's sister and father Dawn and Mike Swann. Mike exposed Juley as a con man, despite Juley's claims that he was a reformed character. Gus persuaded Juley to return to Walford permanently to turn over a new leaf.
In late 2005, Wellard bit Ian Beale, who decided he wanted the dog put down. Wellard was imprisoned impending a trial, and the newly-arrived Deano Wicks (aided by Dawn) started a campaign to free Wellard, selling t-shirts emblazoned with 'WOOF' (Walford One Owed Freedom) on Alfie Moon's old stall, despite warnings from market inspector Marie Matthews. Wellard walked free on 12 January 2006, after Ian's partner Jane Collins and children Peter and Lucy gave him character witness statements.
When Juley mugged his ex-girlfriend Ruby Allen, Jake Moon threatened to report Juley to the police. Gus helped Juley escape Walford, despite being disgusted at Juley's actions, by stalling Jake and letting Juley out of his back door.
Gus was briefly reunited with Sonia when she broke up with girlfriend Naomi Julien, but she left him once again for Martin.
Gus lives at 43a Albert Square, Keith Miller, Joe Macer and Bert Atkinson have all lodged with him when they had nowhere else to stay.
Mickey Miller and Li Chong moved in with Gus and Wellard. Li has now moved out but Mickey still lives there.
Mickey then moved out and Gus has been living alone until recently when Sean Slater moved into Gus' flat uninvited.
On 8 February, Gus was chaperone for Clare Bates when she went to R&R. He was rudely shunned all evening as Clare had her sights set on Jack Branning. The two agreed to be friends at the end of the evening although Gus seemed reluctant and disappointed.
In April he met a girl called Keisha who he fell for, but he caught her in bed with Sean Slater his lodger on the 11th who had failed to pay his rent for two months. This was because Sean had convinced Keisha that Gus had numerous women in his life, which, along with Mickey saying he was a "tiger" earlier in the day, fooled Keisha into thinking he was a womaniser which Sean took advantage of and seduced Keisha into bed with lies and alcohol. Gus attempted to evict Sean because of this, but he managed to trick Gus and get back in and take the flat for himself, with Gus still paying the rent.
External links
References
- ^ "Two EastEnders actors quit soap". Digital Spy. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
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