Neighbours star Ian Smith stuns fans with remarkable health turnaround

Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith has revealed that he feels “reborn” following a miraculous turnaround in his battle with cancer.

The 86-year-old actor first opened up about his diagnosis with a rare form of lung cancer during a deeply emotional interview with Network Ten in 2024. At the time, his prognosis appeared bleak.

But in a twist that is sure to delight his adoring fans, Smith has now revealed that a groundbreaking new treatment has helped him defy all expectations.

“I was supposed to die in March. I didn’t. So I’m here to talk about me dying last month,” Smith revealed during a moving interview on The Project.

“I know I’ve got cancer because doctors keep telling me I have. That’s the only way I know. I’ve got no pain – none of that.”

Since beginning a revolutionary immunotherapy treatment, one he jokingly described as being a “guinea pig” for, Smith has stunned doctors and loved ones alike with his resilience. Now, he’s daring to hope for “a year, maybe two” of extra time.

“I want to go forever,” he said.

“I don’t want to play Harold anymore, but I don’t want to stop acting.”

In addition to his latest update, Smith has previously reflected on the deeper personal changes brought on by his diagnosis. In a recent interview with The Guardian, he opened up about how facing mortality has shifted his perspective.

“Dying does change how you live,” he told the publication.

“I vainly say I am a better person now, but I think I am more forgiving, more understanding. It is a pity that I couldn’t have come to all these realisations [before] I was sick – I could have done somebody some good in the world.”

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