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Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith reveals heartbreaking health battle

Matthew Hart
Dec 03, 2024
Heartbroken fans wasted no time flooding social media with messages of love, admiration, and support for Smith after he courageously shared his devastating diagnosis. Source: Tracey Nearmy/AAP PHOTOS.

Neighbours star Ian Smith, who has delighted audiences for decades with his role of Harold Bishop on the Australian soap, has announced his departure from the popular series after revealing he has been diagnosed with cancer.

The beloved actor, 86, shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional interview with Network Ten, disclosing his battle with a rare form of lung cancer.

“I found out a few months back that I have cancer, that I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to die,” Smith said.

“I’ve had three chemos although the first one wasn’t chemo it was immunotherapy, which is reasonably new, to the medical world.

“I’ve really put my hand up I think just 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 and if they can do that, I’m very happy.

“But I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.”

Heartbroken fans wasted no time flooding social media with messages of love, admiration, and support for Smith after he courageously shared his devastating diagnosis.

The official X account of Neighbours announced Smith’s departure from the long running series in light of his health battle.

“Harold waves goodbye to Ramsay Street. We’re sharing the sad news that Ian Smith will soon be stepping away from the beloved role of Harold Bishop. Ian first played Harold in 1987 and it’s been a huge privilege to welcome him back to the show over the years,” they wrote.

Smith first appeared in Neighbours in 1987 as a former love interest of Madge Mitchell, portrayed by Anne Charleston.

Initially, his character was meant to feature in only a few episodes, but he ended up staying until 1991, when Harold was swept out to sea while on holiday. Smith returned to the show in 1996 and remained until 2009.

In addition to his widely recognised role on Neighbours, Smith appeared in the acclaimed series Prisoner in the recurring roles as Head of the Corrections Department, Ted Douglas.

-with PA.

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