List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2002

Tom Banks, played by Colm Ó Maonlaí, is a firefighter who had been friends with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) when they were young.

The couple begin dating, and despite interference from Sharon's ex-boyfriend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Tom's psychotic ex-wife Sadie (Isobel Middleton), they stay together.

Donna then flees to the Slaters' house to hide from Trevor who is on a violent rampage but is eventually found and leaves Sean with Mo Harris (Laila Morse).

Gus Smith, played by Mohammed George, first arrives in Walford in May 2002, and soon begins a relationship with Sonia Jackson (Natalie Cassidy).

Gus is joined in Walford by his troublesome brother Juley (Joseph Kpobie), and also takes custody of Robbie Jackson's (Dean Gaffney) dog, Wellard.

Initially Paul is unaware of the fact that Precious is Angel's wife, and so when she makes her amorous intentions towards him clear, he has no qualms whatsoever about having sex with her.

Paul eventually finds Precious at her mother Estella's (Ellen Thomas) hair salon, and desperately tries to persuade her to return, but she refuses and flees in a taxi.

Paul returns home to discover his father bound and gagged by Angel, who is also holding Anthony's girlfriend, Zoe (Michelle Ryan), hostage.

A few days later some shady characters are seen placing a bomb underneath Precious' car – timed to go off half an hour before she is due to be at the solicitor with Angel.

However, Precious had put her car into the local mechanics for a service and when it explodes only Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) is hurt but his injuries are not serious.

However, an altercation at The Queen Victoria public house between the Truemans and the Slaters stalls their departure and after Paul gets into a fight with Garry he is taken away by the police.

He proves to be a problem for Gus, as he gets involved in crime, including firearm possession and the theft of charity money, which leads to his departure in April 2005.

In September 2005 he returns and visits France with Gus, Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi), Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) and Mickey Miller (Joe Swash).

Their crush starts on 21 November 2005; however, they really push the limits on 12 December 2005 when they have sex together, despite watchful eye of Ruby's father, Johnny Allen (Billy Murray).

It is subsequently revealed that Juley is working for Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who is paying him to be with Ruby to antagonise Johnny.

Juley had put some of the money into his brother Gus's fund to see his dog, Wellard, who has been arrested for biting Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

When Ruby returns to Walford after her father's arrest, Juley talks to her in the market to see if she is okay, but is badly beaten by Johnny's employee, Jake Moon (Joel Beckett).

Milton Hibbert, played by Jeffery Kissoon, is an old friend of Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), who had grown up in Trinidad with him and his late wife Audrey (Corinne Skinner-Carter).

Milton has arrived in the square for Patrick's son Anthony's (Nicholas Bailey) wedding to Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).

After being rejected, Joanne gets her revenge on Phil by renting his house to Albert Square's new doctor, Jonathan Leroy (Ivan Kaye) and his wife.

Clive arrives in The Queen Victoria public house for great-nieces Louise Mitchell's (Rachel Cox) naming party.

Dave Roberts, played by David Kennedy, is an applicant for the position of bar manager at Peggy Mitchell's (Barbara Windsor) pub, The Queen Victoria.

[5] He makes it up to her by offering to check the fire alarms in the pub, but annoys her further by going through a drawer full of her personal documents and asking her about her daughter Sam's (Kim Medcalf) love life.

[9] After one of Dave's friends barges into Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) in the pub, Peggy threatens to bar anyone who upsets her regular customers.

[14] When Dave's friends trash the floral tributes to Tom, Roy steps in and tries to stop them, after Sharon (Letitia Dean) becomes distraught at the sight.

The rest of Walford's male residents unite to drive the thugs out of town, and they are closely followed by Dave, who tries to steal some money from the pub's till, but is stopped by Sam wielding a baseball bat.

Doris Moisey, played by Marcia Ashton, is a pensioner spinster who meets Jim Branning (John Bardon) at the gym in Walford and sets her sights on him.

However, the marriage ends, and Kate then has an affair with Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), Phil's arch-rival and the husband of her business partner, Chrissie (Tracy-Ann Oberman).

Detective Sergeant Dougie Slade, played by John Bowler, is a corrupt ex-police officer who was involved in the case which led to Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) being imprisoned for credit card fraud.

When Dougie sees the picture in the paper, he visits Alfie and threatens to expose his true identity unless he steals £4,000 from the cash till at the pub.