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Stirling continued his acting career both on the stage and on television, including productions of The Caretaker, Entertaining Mr Sloane and Cabaret. But of course Ian Stirling was one of them; he was an absolute dear, and very funny, and I really enjoyed the times when he was on, but I had absolutely no idea that he was sending coded messages out to the gay locals! Whether you remember him with Ian Stirling, Judi Spiers, David Fitzgerald, Fern Britton, Ruth Langsford, on a keyring, in a song, or as an attraction at Flambards or The Box; there’s no denying this is one iconic rabbit. That’s who we think people have when people say they have got Gus, we think it could be one of his many offspring.
Gus Honeybun - 60 and still famous - The Box Plymouth
Gus manifested during the latter days of the Westward franchise, continued throughout the TSW years, and was finally put out to pasture before the handover to the wretched Westcountry in the early nineties.
They had a woman in charge that didn’t come from down here, didn’t know what it was all about and there was a number of unsuccessful programmes which they thought would thrill our audience. He also appeared on television in many acting roles, including parts in A Family at War, Budgie, Pathfinders (TV series, one episode) and Crown Court. Before we travel through some of Plymouth's own past, it's important to highlight the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. The fluffy bunny launched the careers of regional celebrities like Judy Spiers, David Fitzgerald and Ian Stirling. Anything from the typical dog assault course to a maze where a dog had to get out without being sidetracked by treats was included.
Gus Honeybun on TV Tributes to legendary man who helped keep Gus Honeybun on TV
He waved goodbye to his mother and father, and went to the bright lights of Derry’s Cross in Plymouth to the new studios of Westward Television.
The aim of National Archive Week is to raise awareness of archives, their value to society and the impact they have every day on individual lives.
Gus Honeybun reveals all about his South West television
He also took the decision to take the Johnny Speight comedy The 19th Hole off air as he believed it to be racist. Gus Honeybun was the station mascot for Westward Television, and later Television South West, from 1961 to December 1992.
The Derry’s Cross Studios in the heart of Plymouth was the home of Westward and TSW from 1961 until 1992 before Westcountry Television took over at the beginning of 1993 from a studio at Langage Science Park in Plympton.