Harold and Madge Bishop

[lizann]

he was to live in terese's retirement home

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours to reintroduce more classic characters after Harold announcement.
Some older faces ?still have so much to offer?.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...aracters-2024/

[Bossy7]

So where will HAROLD live? The retirement home isnt finished. Guess its straight to the KENNEDYs!

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours legend Ian Smith confirms return date
?See ya!?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...h-return-date/

Neighbours legend Ian Smith has confirmed when his return to Erinsborough will air, with viewers not having too long to wait.

In a new video discussing his permanent return to the soap, Smith revealed that his fan-favourite character Harold Bishop will be back on Ramsay Street from May 28.

"I?m back on May 28th, not only back in the show but also in the first part of the show where everyone is running around to music and singing and everything," he said.

"Well, I run around and I sing, and I?m gonna be in that too. Will you be my friend? See ya!"

Elsewhere in the video, Smith said he "couldn?t be happier" about returning, adding: "I was retired and don?t get me wrong, I enjoyed retirement ? don?t tell anyone but I?m 85 years old.

"You need youngsters around you to keep you young, and we?ve got the best bunch of youngsters, they?re fun and they?re good."

The actor?s return was officially confirmed by the soap earlier this month, with its official Twitter/X account writing: "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, where he belongs."

Smith initially played Harold between 1987 and 1991, before returning for another stint in 1996 until 2009.

He has also made guest appearances over the years, including in 2022 and the first few episodes of Amazon Freevee?s revival. Now, however, it looks like he?s back for good.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach.

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours shares first look at Harold's return and new set
He's back!

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...eturn-new-set/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours has revealed a first look at Harold Bishop moving back to Erinsborough.

The legendary character is returning to the soap later this month ? and this time he's back for good.

Viewers know that Harold has popped in and out of Erinsborough since his final scenes as a show regular aired in 2009.

Harold will now become a full-time resident again as he's moving into Eirini Rising, the new retirement complex which Terese Willis has been planning.

New spoiler pictures show Harold settling into his new retirement home, giving fans a first look at Neighbours' latest set addition.

Terese and Jane Harris have been working together on the Eirini Rising project, as the retirement centre has taken over some space at Erinsborough High. The plan is for the school and Eirini Rising to co-exist, as students build relationships with some of the older residents.

Susan Kennedy is also now on board with the project after accepting the post of Operations Manager.

Terese, Jane and Susan can be seen addressing the crowds on the big launch day of Eirini Rising, keen for it to be a success after so much hard work.

Neighbours announced actor Ian Smith's big return as Harold last month.

In a post on social media, the show wrote: "After fifteen 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, where he belongs."

Ian Smith later added: "I'm back on May 28th, not only back in the show but also in the first part of the show where everyone is running around to music and singing and everything. Well, I run around and I sing, and I?m gonna be in that too.

"I was retired and don't get me wrong, I enjoyed retirement ? don't tell anyone but I'm 85 years old.

"You need youngsters around you to keep you young, and we've got the best bunch of youngsters, they're fun and they're good."

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach.

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


Back as Harold, Ian Smith talks about what keeps him young ? and who else he?d like to see return to Neighbours
?I love the old bugger.'

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/enterta...harold-return/

At the age of 85, Ian Smith has been checking out retirement villages. ?It?s sort of like moving into God?s waiting room, isn?t it?? he tells TV WEEK. ?Your last move.?

As yet, he hasn?t found one that suits.

?I searched around and they were all full of old people and I?m a young person!? he laughs.

Happily for Neighbours fans, Ian hasn?t retired from acting, and will return as Harold Bishop this week. Unlike Ian, Harold has found a retirement village he wants to move into: Eirini Rising. Run by Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou), the home has close links with Erinsborough High.

?It?s rather pertinent to me,? Ian says. ?It?s very much my interest at the moment.?

The veteran actor has been playing Harold on and off since 1987. He says he puts on the character ?like an old cardigan?.

?I love the old bugger! I do look forward to coming back into the show because the kids keep me young.?

But he admits that learning scripts is harder for him than it used to be.

?My memory is really suffering. I?ve never forgotten where I live, but I have been in my car and suddenly forgotten how to get to a place.?

Ian likes to keep himself busy by going fly fishing, taking walks in the bush with his metal detector and riding his e-bike on dirt roads. But he doesn?t tend to go by himself anymore.

?I?m a little unsteady on my feet and I don?t feel safe going fly fishing on my own because if I stumble and fall, they might find my body half a kilometre downstream,? he explains. ?I feel safer having somebody with me. But I don?t want to tell them that?s the reason I want them with me, I want them to think that I just love them to death. It?s a lie!?

With the news of Ian?s return, fans have been getting excited about the possibility of other former Erinsborough residents joining Harold in Eirini Rising. Ian loves the idea.

?But they mustn?t outnumber the youngsters,? he adds, ?because this show, when it started off, was written for youngsters.

?Now those youngsters have become the oldies, haven?t they? Not that I was a youngster, but that beautiful Annie Jones? There wasn?t a man within a bull?s roar that wasn?t madly in love with Jane Harris, was there??

Looking back over his decades on the soap, some of Ian?s fondest memories are storylines involving Harold and ?dear Mrs Mangel?.

?When she had a crush on Harold, I think we did some of the best comedy the show has had. She was the most lovely lady, Vivean Gray.?

Ian also has fond memories of an unscripted moment between Harold and Lou (Tom Oliver) that made it to air. It was in a scene where Lou?s back went out. When Harold tried to help him, his back went out, too.

?Suddenly the two of them saw what a ridiculous sight they were and they started laughing,? Ian remembers. ?It was one of those things, that infectious contagious laughing thing, and it turned out to be wonderful.?

But there?s one memory that makes him cringe: Bouncer the Labrador dreaming about getting married after watching Harold?s daughter Kerry?s (Linda Hartley-Clark) wedding video.

?Bouncer including me in his family and almost blaming me for having pups ? I wasn?t fond of that at all.?

When asked which former resident he?d most like to see return to Neighbours, Ian doesn?t hesitate.

?It?s not possible, of course? I?d love to see Madge come back.?

Harold?s wife Madge, played by Anne Charleston, died on the show in 2001.

?We just bounced off each other so easily,? Ian says of Anne. ?It really was a luxury turning up for a rehearsal. We didn?t need it. We knew what the other one was going to do.?



Also:

Neighbours legend Ian Smith wants to return to West End stage aged 85
EXCLUSIVE The Harold Bishop actor reveals the real reason he came out of retirement as he prepares to return as a series regular on the Australian soap

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/i...-b1158288.html