Harold Bishop is back
Ramsay Street’s favourite old fusspot to return to our screens
HAROLD Bishop is to return to Neighbours 15 years after his departure as a regular character, the soap’s bosses have revealed.
The God-fearing fuddy-duddy, played by Ian Smith, will be back on Ramsay Street at the age of 85.
Producers said: “After 15 years of living away, the legendary Harold Bishop is returning to Erinsborough. We are thrilled to welcome Ian Smith back to the show and the opening titles.”
Harold first appeared in 1987 as an old flame of Madge Mitchell, played by Anne Charleston, soon to become his wife.
He was only supposed to be in a few episodes but he stayed until 1991, when a devastating storyline saw Harold washed out to sea while on holiday.
But in 1996, he was back. Initially without his memory, he soon remembered who he was with a little help from frenemy and love rival Lou Carpenter, played by Tom Oliver.
During this second stint in Ramsay Street, Harold had his house burgled by a gambling-addicted girlfriend, suffered a stroke that completely altered his personality, and tried to strangle the man he blamed for the plane crash that killed his son.
Madge died of cancer in 2001 and Harold, after surviving a brush with the disease himself, left the show in 2009, occasionally returning for guest appearances. Veteran actor Ian had previously told Australia’s TV Tonight that he wanted to retire. Potential storylines for Harold are still unknown, though some have speculated that the actor’s previous statements about retirement and age may indicate he will be involved in plans by Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) and Jane Harris (Annie Jones) to establish a retirement community.
In a non-continuous run, Ian is the longest-serving actor on Neighbours, having first appeared 37 years ago.
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37 Years since Ian Smith first appeared as Harold Bishop in Neighbours