Neighbours legend Ian Smith is reportedly allowing a camera crew to follow him through his terminal cancer battle.
The Harold Bishop actor, 86 – whose portrayal of the beloved Ramsay Street stalwart made him a household name – received a pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma diagnosis earlier this year.
‘I found out a few months back that I have cancer,’ he told 10 News First. ‘That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to… they expect me to die.’
Ian has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy, telling the TV station that he ‘put his hands up to be a guinea pig’ because he doesn’t want to die.
‘I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can,’ he said. ‘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.’
Ian has already filmed his final scenes alongside former co-star Anne Charleston, who is not reprising her Madge Bishop role but will be playing a new character.
In an emotional video, cast and crew were joined alongside Kevin Harrington who played Harold’s son David to bid an emotional farewell to their friend and colleague, who first appeared on the soap almost four decades ago.
Australian showbiz reporter Peter Ford told 6PR Perth radio that Ian’s life will be documented in his bid to raise awareness of assisted dying, after losing his adoptive parents, birth mother and wife Gail to cancer.
‘He wants to do this because he does want to raise awareness about assisted dying’ Peter explained.
‘[Ian] believes that doctors either don’t, or, in some cases, can’t, give you the information of the options that are available to you… not that he intends to take up those options, as far as I know.
‘But I think because he’s had so many people around him die as a result of Cancer, I think he feels it’s a subject that needs to be put on the table.’
He continued: ‘So, a very brave thing for him to go and do.’
A statement on the show’s social media earlier this week confirmed that Ian had stepped down from the role, and Anne’s return to the studios in Nunawading, near Melbourne.
‘Harold waves goodbye to Ramsay Street’, it read.
‘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.
‘We’re also thrilled to announce that Anne Charleston will be joining Ian on set for some of his last scenes. In what context Anne will appear is yet to be revealed, but to have the iconic couple reunited will be one final treat for fans.’
‘Erinsborough won’t quite be the same again, but rest assured that Harold is set to have a send-off fit for Ramsay Street royalty.’
He originally departed the show in 1991, in a memorable story that saw the character swept out to sea and presumed dead. Five years later, he arrived back in Erinsborough believing to be a Salvation Army worker named Ted.
The opening of a new retirement complex in the suburb has allowed a number of veteran actors to reprise their parts.
Speaking exclusively to Metro at the time, Ian said: ‘ I was asked if I’d care to come back into the show. I was excited! I said yes – but not full-time.
‘I don’t know if they asked me full-time to be honest. But I said: “Bits and bobs, would that do it?” and they said: “Yes, indeed!” so I’m a very lucky old actor at 85 I still get to work.’
