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Neighbours actor Ian Smith reveals terminal cancer

All Buzz

Monday, 2 December 2024 14:17

By Kinga Piotrowska

(Neighbours_Youtube)

Actor Ian Smith, known for playing Harold Bishop in Neighbours, has revealed he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Neighbours actor Ian Smith, known for playing Harold Bishop in the Australian soap, has announced his departure from the show after revealing he has terminal cancer.

The 86-year-old actor said in an interview with Australia’s 10 News First that he has a rare form of lung cancer, called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

Speaking to presenter Angela Bishop, he said: "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."

He later said of having treatment: "I’ve had three chemos – although the first one wasn’t chemo, it was immunotherapy, which is reasonably new, to the medical world.

(Getty)

"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."

A message posted on the official X account of Neighbours said: "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."

Neighbours also announced that actress Anne Charleston, who played Harold’s wife Madge, will return alongside Smith for some of his last scenes.