Actor Ian Smith, known for playing Harold Bishop in Neighbours, has revealed he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 85-year-old first appeared on Ramsay Street in 1987 and has played the beloved character on and off over five decades. After a 15-year break, he returned to the Australian soap just a few months ago.
However, he has now revealed he has filmed his last Neighbours scenes after being told he has a rare form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
“I found out a few months back that I have cancer,” Smith told Australian news show 10 News First. “I have a very aggressive, non-fixable cancer. They expect me to die.”
Kylie Minogue as Charlene Mitchell, Craig Mclachlan as Henry, Anne Charleston as Madge Bishop and Smith as Harold back in the early days. Pic: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
The programme shared footage of his final day on set, telling his fellow castmates he had had “the most privileged life” and met “the most beautiful people” during his time on the show.
Harold arrived in Erinsborough as an old flame of Madge (Anne Charleston), and the pair went on to get married and become one of the soap’s best-loved couples.
But tragedy struck when he was washed out to sea in 1991, presumed dead – Neighbours fans will remember those famous final scenes, with a heartbroken Madge left with only his glasses, washed up on a rock.
However, this is soapland, where anything can happen – and Harold returned in 1996, albeit with memory loss. He remained on screen until 2009.
During that time, the character had his house burgled by a gambling-addicted girlfriend, suffered a stroke that completely altered his personality, and tried to strangle the man he blamed for the plane crash that killed his son.
Smith returned alongside (L-R) Minogue, Jason Donovan, Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis in 2022, for what was thought to be the soap’s final episode. Pic: Fremantle/Channel 5
Smith went on to make brief guest appearances in the soap following his exit – including in what was thought at the time to be the final ever episode in 2022 after the series was axed by Channel 5.
However, Neighbours returned in 2023 after being picked up by streaming channel Amazon Freevee, and Smith announced his full return in May.
“After 15 years of living away, the legendary Harold Bishop is returning to Erinsborough,” the show revealed in a statement shared on social media at the time. “We are thrilled to welcome Ian Smith back to the show and the opening titles, where he belongs.”
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After filming his final scenes, Smith said there were “real tears” during his last day on set.
Footage showed him alongside castmates including Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), and Annie Jones (Jane Harris) – as well as a surprise return from Charleston, reportedly playing a different character following Madge’s death in 2001.
Dennis broke down in tears as he said: “In the last 20 years that I’ve been back, I have found the most incredible bond with this man… I love you so much.”
Smith said he had undergone treatment including chemotherapy and immunotherapy and that he had put his hand up “to be a guinea pig – plus the fact, I don’t want to die. I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can. If they can do that, I’m very happy”.
