No one does nostalgia quite like Neighbours . The 2022 'finale', when Channel 5’s withdrawal of funding ended the show – or so we thought – was a masterclass in eliciting misty-eyed memories among viewers of a certain age. Among the icons who returned to celebrate the Aussie soap was Ian Smith as the beloved, bumbling Harold Bishop.
When Amazon revived Neighbours a year later he popped back again to briefly update the Ramsay Street History Book for this new chapter, and this week he becomes a regular cast member for the first time in 15 years. After numerous mini-comebacks, what tempted Smith for a longer stay this time? "I made the mistake of thinking I had retired," he grins, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com from the soap’s Melbourne studios.
"I thought I had made enough provisions, but no. I had about four wonderful things to do, but you can’t do the same four things for the rest of your life. And so I was getting a bit bored and while I was out fishing one day, the phone rang – it was Neighbours asking me if I would come back.
"I took all of a tenth of a second then said 'yes please!' 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? And I only film one day and week, so it’s lots of lovely bits and bobs." Harold’s own retirement is about to get much more eventful as the character moves into Eirini Rising, Erinsbo.