Ian Smith is stepped down from his role on Neighbours amid a terminal cancer battle.
The soap opera icon, who has played Harold Bishop on the Australian series since 1987, says his prognosis is dire.
‘I found out a few months back that I have cancer’ the 86-year-old told the Herald Sun on Monday.
‘That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to … they expect me to die.’
The Aussie actor, who has played the beloved character on Neighbours since 1987, described the cancer as ‘non-fixable’.
Bishop’s character will be given a fitting send-off from the series, Executive Producer Jason Herbison told the publication.
Ian Smith is stepped down from his role on Neighbours amid a terminal cancer battle
‘It was a very emotional moment on set as we paid tribute to him and the incredible contribution he has made to the show’ he said.
Herbison added that Smith, just like his character, is deeply ‘loved’ by the show and public alike.
A Network 10 spokesperson said in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Ian Smith’s cancer diagnosis.
‘A cherished member of the Neighbours family, Ian has been the heart and soul of the show since he first arrived on Ramsay Street in 1987.
‘Ian has brought joy, laughter and inspiration to audiences all around the world for decades.
‘Along with the cast and crew and all his fans from around the world, we will support Ian in any way we can during this difficult time.’
Smith joined the show as Harold Bishop in 1987, before leaving the series in 1991.
The actor returned again in 1996, this time staying in the role for over a decade before again leaving in 2009.
The soap opera icon, who has played Harold Bishop on the Australian series since 1987, says his prognosis is dire. Pictured on the series in his hey day
‘I found out a few months back that I have cancer’ the 86-year-old told the Herald Sun on Monday. ‘That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to … they expect me to die’. Pictured alongside Anne Charleston who played his wife Madge Bishop
He reprised the role in 2011 and again in 2015, before recently returning in 2022 as a series regular.
Smith will continue to appear on screen until April, 2025.
Earlier this year, the performer said that he didn’t initially plan to return to the soap following his departure in 2015 but had become bored with retirement.
‘I made the mistake of thinking I had retired,’ he told The Radio Times in May.
‘I thought I had made enough provisions, but no. I had about four wonderful things to do, but you can’t do the same four things for the rest of your life’ he continued.
‘And so I was getting a bit bored and while I was out fishing one day, the phone rang – it was Neighbours asking me if I would come back.
‘I took all of a tenth of a second then said ‘yes please!”
‘What actor at the age of 85 can experience that beautiful thing of doing something they love, being in a studio, standing in front of a camera and everyone telling them they’re wonderful?
‘And I only film one day and week, so it’s lots of lovely bits and bobs.’
Smith was part of the reboot of Neighbours after it was famously axed by Channel Ten in 2022.
It was cancelled as it failed to find a new broadcaster after Channel 5 dropped the long-running soap for its UK audience.
However, just months after a reunion episode was aired that included iconic stars such as Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, it was announced that the soap would be coming back after a new broadcaster was found.
The new series now airs for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US and icludes streaming rights to thousands of episodes from previous seasons.
In Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, it streams on Prime Video.
Cameras began rolling for the revamped soap last year with much of the established cast reprising their roles.
Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD original content and programming, Amazon Studios, recently said: ‘Neighbours has captivated its audience for nearly 40 years, building a dedicated and loyal following for the lives and stories of the characters on Ramsay Street.
‘With the power of streaming, we’re able to offer a catalogue of thousands of Neighbours episodes for new audiences to discover this legendary series and current fans to relive their favourite moments.
‘We look forward to immersing the audience in new Ramsay Street experiences when we relaunch the show next year for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video customers.’
During his time on Neighbours, Smith’s Harold Bishop has gone through major ups and downs and some truly wild plotlines.
MORE TO COME
