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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Ian Smith left Neighbours after announcing in December 2024 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal form of lung cancer. Smith, best known for playing Harold Bishop, said his final day on the series was also his last day at work. The show’s producers said Harold would receive a proper send-off.
Why is Ian Smith leaving Neighbours?
Smith announced his departure after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. In a Network 10 interview reported by the Associated Press, he said his final episode had already been filmed. “It isn’t just my last day in ‘Neighbours,’ it’s my last day of work,” he said. The statement made clear that the departure marked his retirement from acting work as well as his exit from the series.
In December 2024, the ABC reported that Smith had undergone three rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. He described the cancer as “very aggressive, non-fixable.” These details reflect Smith’s public account of his own diagnosis and treatment, not medical advice. (ABC News, 2 December 2024; Associated Press, 3 December 2024)
What cancer does Ian Smith have?
The Associated Press identified Smith’s diagnosis as pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, an aggressive form of lung cancer. That specific cancer type was reported by AP; Smith’s diagnosis should not be treated here as an independent medical assessment. (Associated Press, 3 December 2024)
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Who is Harold Bishop?
Harold Bishop is the character Smith played on Neighbours. Smith joined the Australian soap as Harold in 1987 and returned to the role after periods away from the show. His long association with the character made the departure a significant moment for the series and its viewers. (ABC News, 2 December 2024; The Guardian, 17 February 2025)
How the show responded
Executive producer Jason Herbison said the production would give Harold a proper send-off and praised Smith’s contribution. Herbison said: “The way the residents of Ramsay Street feel about Harold is how we all feel about Ian — we couldn’t love him more than we do.” (ABC News, 2 December 2024)
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What did Smith say about his health afterward?
In an interview published by The Guardian on 17 February 2025, Smith said scans had improved after chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but he did not say the cancer was gone. He said doctors continued to tell him he had cancer and that he might become very sick again. “I know I have cancer, because doctors keep telling me I have it,” he said.
This is Smith’s account as reported in February 2025, not a verified update on his health after that date. (The Guardian, 17 February 2025)
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