Ian Smith shocked and saddened Neighbours fans the world over last week when he announced he was stepping away from playing his iconic character Harold Bishop because he’s fighting terminal cancer.
“Doctors diagnosed me a few months ago,” says the actor, 87, explaining that he’s leaving the soap to focus on his health. “It’s a very aggressive, not fixable lung cancer… and they expect me to die.”
Of his treatment, he adds, “I’ve really put my hand up just to be a guinea pig… I don’t want to die. I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can.”
Doctors diagnosed Ian with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, a rare form of lung cancer with a very high mortality rate. He’s since undergone chemotherapy and cutting-edge immunotherapy.
While the entire Neighbours cast has rallied around, no one is more devastated than Ian’s close friend Anne Charleston, who played his onscreen wife Madge for years.
Harold and Madge were Ramsay Street royalty, and they’ve been besties for decades off screen.
“I had known about Ian’s cancer diagnosis for months but kept it quiet,’ Anne, 81, tells Woman’s Day. “I was devastated for Ian, as are the rest of the cast, as Ian is so revered.
“But in a recent phone call, Ian revealed there was a glimmer of hope. The immunotherapy treatment, as if by a miracle, improved what was originally a dire prognosis and seemed to have prolonged his life.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time the disease has upended Ian’s life.
“He’s been to hell and back with loved ones succumbing to cancer,” says Anne. “It’s like a curse. His cherished wife of over 50 years, Gail, died from cancer in 2019.”
When Ian was 54, he felt shell-shocked when he found out he was adopted.
His adoptive mum Connie shared the news on her deathbed and he’d had no idea, spiralling into a depression.
He located his birth mother Peggy and it was an extraordinary reunion full of love. Sadly, both Connie and Peggy have also since succumbed to cancer.
Ian has enjoyed a remarkable career stretching back to the ’60s, when he starred in cop shows Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police. While working as a script editor on Prisoner in the ’80s, he took on the role of Ted Douglas when the other actor didn’t turn up.
Then, in 1987, Ian joined the cast of Neighbours as Harold, whom he has played on and off for decades.
When Neighbours was axed in 2022 and then revived in 2023, Ian was thrilled to return to his beloved role.
His TV wife Madge had died of pancreatic cancer in 2001. But Ian and Anne recently reunited on the Neighbours set, with Anne playing a new character.
Despite his poor health, Ian’s passion for acting remains unwavering. The crew filmed his final scenes for Neighbours in late November, an impressive 37 years after his first.
“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?” Ian says, reflecting on his career. “I only film one day a week, so it’s lots of lovely bits and bobs.”
Now, with Ian’s decision to call it quits to focus on his health, Woman’s Day is told Harold and Anne’s new mystery character will ride off into the sunset in great style.
“It was very emotional,” Anne tells. “I adored being back working with Smithy. Everyone has showered him with such genuine love and positivity for his journey ahead.”
The Neighbours family has also shared their sadness on Instagram, confirming Ian’s departure.
“Harold waves goodbye to Ramsay Street,” the show posted, acknowledging Ian’s legacy. “It’s been a huge privilege to welcome him back to the show over the years, most recently in the current season.”
Executive producer Jason Herbison praised Ian’s commitment. He said, “Despite the challenges he was facing with his health, he wanted to give Harold a proper send-off. It was a very emotional moment on set as we paid tribute to him and the incredible contribution he has made to the show.”
A statement from Aussie TV channel Ten read, “Ian has been the heart and soul of Neighbours since 1987. He has brought joy, laughter and inspiration to audiences all around the world for decades… We will support Ian in any way we can during this difficult time.”
Watch Ian’s time in Neighbours on TVNZ+.
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