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Geoffrey "Geoff" Campbell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Lincoln Lewis. The actor spent two years auditioning for a role on the show, before he was offered the part of Geoff. Lewis relocated to Sydney for filming and he cut his long hair for the character. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 June 2007.

Casting

On 17 June 2007, Angela Cuming of The Sun-Herald reported Lewis had joined the cast of Home and Away. The actor had previously auditioned for a role on the show for two years, before finally impressing the producers. During an interview published in Inside Soap, Lewis revealed that he had auditioned for Ric Dalby in 2004, making it down to the final three, before Mark Furze got the part. Then in 2007, Lewis auditioned for Drew Curtis and made it to the final two – only for Bobby Morley to be given the role. Of the moment he learned he had secured a role in Home and Away, Lewis said "I was in a furniture shop with my mum and aunty when called to say I had got the job. I started screaming and running around. I am just so stoked to be here doing this and it still hasn't really sunk in yet." Lewis' character, Geoff Campbell, was said to be a farm boy, a football player and Summer Bay High's newest student. Lewis had to relocate to Sydney to film his scenes and he cut his long hair short for the part. Lewis made his on screen debut as Geoff on 20 June 2007.

Development

Characterisation

Geoff and his sister Annie (Charlotte Best) were raised by their "super-religious" grandfather, Bruce (Chris Haywood), after their parents died in a car crash. They all lived at the family farm on the outskirts of Summer Bay and Bruce home-schooled the siblings. Lewis agreed that he and Best had a "natural brother-and-sister chemistry" on-screen because they both have siblings in real life and were able to relate to one another. He also said that he and Best got on great and enjoyed "taking the mickey" out of each other like a real brother and sister.

Geoff was a devout Christian, who planned to become a priest when he grew up. Lewis commented that while he was not as "diehard religious" as Geoff, he did believe. He added "Playing this character has been an eye-opening experience for me, as it's allowed me to see things from the perspective of someone who's very strong in their beliefs."

Friendship with Aden Jefferies

Geoff's love of football and his faith made him stand out from other guys his age. He developed an "on and off" friendship with Aden Jefferies (Todd Lasance). Aden disliked Geoff at first due to the fact that Geoff was more talented at football and to Aden, represented "the hypocrisy of society." Aden was convinced that Geoff was just "as flawed as everyone else, and just as full of sin." The eventually matured and became friends. Off-screen, Lasance and Lewis were close friends and while they lived together, they learned lines and critiqued each other's performances. After dropping out of school, Geoff found himself at a loose end and thought he and Aden could work together on a prawn trawler. Geoff believed that it was just the thing to pull Aden "out of his funk" following the death of his wife. Aden and Geoff found working together harder than they anticipated and their tempers soon got the better of them. When they clashed over how to repair the trawler, Geoff lashed out and punches were thrown. They both came into contact with the trawler's electric wiring, which left Geoff having to rescue Aden.

Relationships

Claudia Hammond

After Geoff had sex with Claudia Hammond (Alexandra Park) for the first time, they became trapped in a fire that engulfed their caravan. Lewis told Jason Herbison from Inside Soap that when Geoff awoke to find the caravan in flames, he initially believed that he had gone to hell as punishment for having sex before marriage. The fire was started accidentally when a fight between Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues) and Trey Palmer (Luke Bracey) got out of hand. Lewis explained "They accidentally knock over a barrel which has a fire burning inside it, and a caravan goes up in flames. The pair have no idea that Geoff and Claudia are in there, though." As the fire continued to engulf the caravan, Geoff realised that Claudia was succumbing to smoke inhalation. He helped get her out through a window, before collapsing and having to be rescued by Jai and Miles Copeland (Josh Quong Tart). Lewis told Herbison that Geoff thought he was going to die and once he is safe, he can only think about Claudia.

Once Geoff got to the hospital, he discovered that Claudia had lied about her previous relationship ending. He found Claudia talking to a guy he did not recognise and soon learned that he was her on-off boyfriend Lachie Cladwell (Jackson Heywood). Claudia had told Geoff that she and Lachie were broken up, but that was not the case. When Lachie realised who Geoff was, he punched him in the stomach and warned him to stay away from his girlfriend. Claudia later discovered that she was pregnant and she and Geoff were forced to consider their future. Due to Geoff's strict religious background, it was hard for him when everyone learnt that Claudia was expecting. Lewis explained "His sister, Annie, is disappointed, as Geoff's gone against what they were taught." Claudia's father was not supportive of the couple and he kicked his daughter out, which added to the pressure that Geoff was already feeling. Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) allowed the couple to stay with her, while Geoff tried to keep the news a secret from his guardian Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger).

When Claudia admitted to Annie that she was thinking about having an abortion, Geoff was shocked as it went against his faith. Things got too much for Geoff and he went away for a couple of days to think about the situation. Of the pregnancy and Claudia and Geoff's relationship, series producer Cameron Welsh stated "It's not as clear cut as it probably looks on the surface. There's more going on there in their relationship and more than what we can probably see right now. It's an interesting story and will develop over the next couple of weeks." Lachie later tried to injure Geoff during a rugby match, but Geoff tackled Lachie hard, leaving him with no feeling in his legs. While they were at the hospital, Geoff and Claudia were "full of guilt" and Geoff tried to apologise to Lachie. Claudia then admitted to Geoff that the baby was not his, but Lachie's. A "furious" Geoff then ordered her to leave.

Departure

On 17 September 2009, it was announced that Lewis had quit Home and Away after two years. Of his exit, the actor stated "It's sad to be leaving the cast and crew on Home and Away. It was a hard decision to make, but I also think it's the right time to go." The actor filmed his final scenes as Geoff on 18 September. He later commented that fans could expect "a perfect exit" for his character, which would stay true to him. Geoff departed Summer Bay to "follow his dream" of becoming a missionary.

Reception

For his portrayal of Geoff, Lewis won the Most Popular New Male Talent Logie Award in 2008. That same year, he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards.

A writer for Holy Soap named the character's most memorable moment as "evading psycho Derrek" who tried to kill him and Nicole. A reporter for the Daily Record said "There isn't a bad bone in Geoff but that doesn't stop him being on the receiving end of constant bad luck."

References

1. ^ Cuming, Angela (17 June 2007). "Son of footy champion plays Away". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
2. ^ "You ask...Lincoln Lewis". Inside Soap (6). Hachette Filipacchi UK: 42–43. 9–15 February 2008.
3. ^ Edwards, Amy (22 June 2007). "Home or away he's marooned". Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 November 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
4. ^ Stewart, Carolyn (9–15 June 2007). "New kids in the Bay". TV Week. ACP Magazines.
5. ^ "Lincoln leaves". Yahoo!7. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
6. ^ "Geoff Campbell played by Lincoln Lewis". Holy Soap. Channel 5. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
7. "Aden Jefferies". RTÉ.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
8. Neil, Alicia (9 December 2008). "Home and Away's Lincoln Lewis and Todd Lasance". Who. Pacific Magazines. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
9. ^ Chegwidden, Yvette (5–11 September 2009). "Aden's life on the line". TV Week (36). ACP Magazines: 15.
10. ^ Herbison, Jason (9–15 May 2009). "Flames of passion". Inside Soap (18). Hachette Filipacchi UK: 23.
11. ^ "Pregnant pause". Inside Soap (23). Hachette Filipacchi UK. 13–19 June 2009.
12. Rowe, Darren (26 June 2009). "Cameron Welsh (Series Producer, 'Home and Away')". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
13. ^ "Soap Stories". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 11 July 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
14. ^ Rowe, Darren (17 September 2009). "Lincoln Lewis quits 'Home and Away'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
15. Kilkelly, Daniel (4 February 2010). "Lewis promises "perfect" Summer Bay exit". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
16. "Logie Awards to Lincoln Lewis, Bindi Irwin; Gold for Kate Ritchie". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
17. "Inside Soap Awards 2008 - Nominations". MSN TV. Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2011.

External links

• Character profile at the Official AU Home and Away website
• Character profile at the Official UK Home and Away website
• Character profile at RTÉ.ie
• Character profile at the Internet Movie Database