Neighbours icon Ian Smith has spoken about his terminal cancer diagnosis, days after Harold Bishop left the Amazon Prime Video soap.
In December, the actor, 86, said that doctors expect him to die following his diagnosis with a rare form of cancer – known as pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
He confirmed that he’d undergone three rounds of chemotherapy, having ‘put his hands up to be a guinea pig’ because he wanted to ‘stay alive with quality’ as long as he could.
The soap legend updated fans last month, revealing that his treatment appears to be working as he was told he was ‘supposed to die in March’ – and thus he seems to be ‘defying the odds’.
Ian originally appeared on the Aussie serial between 1987 and 1991, returning for a further stint between 1996 and 2009 when it was discovered that Harold hadn’t died after being swept out to sea.
He continued to make guest appearances over the next 13 years, before being welcomed back once again on a semi-regular basis last year.
The character was reintroduced in the opening titles for the first time in over a decade and moved into Erinsborough retirement home Eirini Rising.
Following Ian’s diagnosis, an exit story was hastily written, with his former co-star Anne Charleston being introduced as a woman who bared a striking resemblance to Harold’s late wife Madge.
It was confirmed that she was a distant cousin of the husky-voiced icon, but Harold found it too difficult to live alongside her.
In Monday’s episode, he packed his bags and moved to Queensland to live with family. However, it was confirmed yesterday that Ian has filmed an additional final scene, which will air in the coming weeks.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, he told hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins that cancer has put him ‘in a very particular place that you share by yourself’, explaining that people can’t fully help unless they’ve been diagnosed themselves.
‘It’s a cruel, brutal place’ he said.
‘This cancer is so rare, drastic, severe and awful, [doctors] don’t know what it’s going to do.’
Health care professionals told him that they were unsure how long he would live without treatment, saying that it could ‘roar back into life’ if he was to stop.
‘It looks like these very clever people are going to keep me alive’.
Despite his diagnosis, Ian told the ITV breakfast show that he still intends to continue working, and slammed those who snub the continuing drama genre.
‘I would never – like some actors do – rubbish soaps’ he said.
‘Neighbours did so much for me and made me realise how much I had to learn.’
It was recently announced that the series will once again conclude, with the final episode airing in December. This comes just two years on from being revived by streaming giants Amazon.
A petition has amassed over 18,000 signatures, but it seems like this really could be the end of the road for Australia’s most famous cul de sac after 40 years on our screens.
Reflecting on the news, Ian added: ‘As long as there is a newspaper, as long as the sun rises… there will be space for a show called Neighbours – people like looking over their back fence and see what’s happening.
‘People said to me, it’s only a soap, and it may be a soap but we’re going to make it the best soap that it is.
Household names Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan all projected themselves to superstardom through the show – with Ian working with them all.
‘It was the best school for young actors.’
