John Smith was a conman at a fair in the United Kingdom. Having sent the Eighth Doctor to the future by way of his TARDIS, John was free to use the TARDIS as part of his latest scheme, sending other fairgoers to the future for a fee. He was stopped by Freddie Miller, a detective with the North West Specials, and his descendant Lucie, both of whom tricked him into piloting the TARDIS to the Doctor.
With the Doctor once again in charge of the TARDIS, John was persuaded to take on what he called a proper job—also one where he could be monitored by Freddie. Occasionally, they drank together, growing so close, John was asked to be the godfather of Freddie's son. (AUDIO: All the Fun of the Fair)
Personality[]
John was a seedy individual who gleefully cheated people out of their money and disliked the police to the point he happily banished them to the future. He was stuck in his ways, making no effort to change until he was forced to by the Doctor. (AUDIO: All the Fun of the Fair)
The Doctor saw John through a condescending lens—or, perhaps, one tinged by exhaustion. He outright told John, Lucie, Freddie, and the time-displaced fairgoers that things would have been worse if not for John's stupidity. To his credit, John was embarrassed by this. (AUDIO: All the Fun of the Fair)