Harold and Madge Bishop

[Perdita]

So sorry to hear that

[lizann]

poor ian, tough heartbreaking

[Pantherboy]

DS update article. Anne Charleston, who played his wife Madge Bishop, will return for Ian's exit story, but as a new character.....


Neighbours legend Ian Smith leaves soap after terminal cancer diagnosis
He first starred as Harold Bishop in 1987.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...cer-diagnosis/

Neighbours icon Ian Smith has exited the soap, after announcing that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The star, known to soap fans for playing the role of Harold Bishop since 1987, has a rare form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

It's a "very aggressive, non-fixable" cancer, Smith told 10 News First.

"They expect me to die," he continued, explaining he underwent three rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

"I've really put my hand up just to be a guinea pig, I think, plus the fact that I don't want to die."

Smith has recently filmed his final scenes on Neighbours, with the Ramsay Street gang coming together to throw their support behind him.

"It isn't just my last day in Neighbours, it's my last day of work," Smith said.

"I've had the most privileged life," he told his co-stars as emotions ran high.

"We didn't just make soap, we made the best bloody soap there was to make. And I've met the most beautiful people."

Speaking about his castmates' love, Smith seemed taken aback and said: "It knocked me out a bit, honestly."

The actor also reflected on losing loved ones to cancer ? including his wife of five decades Gail, who passed away in December 2019.

"She was the most wonderful, beautiful person," Smith said of Gail.

After being on the soap for the past 37 years, Harold is getting a proper Erinsborough sendoff, according to Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison.

"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," Herbison said (via TV Tonight).

"Despite the challenges he (Smith) was facing with his health, he wanted to give Harold a proper send-off.

"It was a very emotional moment on set as we paid tribute to him and the incredible contribution he has made to the show."

Harold's Neighbours exit story includes a familiar face ? with Anne Charleston, who played his wife Madge Bishop, returning to the soap as a new character.

If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from Macmillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video 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 Comedy.




The nowtolove.com.au article:

Ian Smith announces departure from Neighbours following ?non-fixable? cancer diagnosis
?I found out a few months back that I have cancer."

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/enterta...-smith-cancer/

[Ruffed_lemur]

Poor Ian. Such sad news.

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


?I?m so lucky?: Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith shares good news amidst cancer diagnosis
"I feel like I've been reborn"

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebri...health-update/

Neighbours fans across Australia were devastated to hear in early December that the much-loved Ian Smith had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was finishing up on the show. But when TV WEEK had a phone chat with Ian just before Christmas, he had some ?extremely good news? to share.

?I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were ?significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour?,? the 85-year-old actor reveals.

?I?ve gone from a threat of dying this coming March to maybe a few more months? and now, God, who knows? It?s not a cure and it won?t be a cure, but I certainly have got a year, maybe two.

?That?s amazing. It really is.?

Ian was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma and underwent chemotherapy as well as immunotherapy. It was Ian?s diagnosis that prompted him to contact Neighbours? executive producer Jason Herbison to see if he could return to the show as Harold Bishop, the character he?d played on and off since 1987, one final time.

?I asked Jason if I could get Harold to say goodbye and he kindly said yes,? Ian says. ?I liked Harold. There?s not enough of his type in the world. I wouldn?t like to live next to him, I?ve got to be honest, but he?s good. He?s a nice man.?

Neighbours producers even went along with Ian?s wish that Anne Charleston, who played Harold?s wife Madge, would return to the show.

?How good was that?? Ian marvels. ?Gee, you couldn?t ask for more.?

Viewers will see Anne on screen in 2025. She won?t be playing Madge, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2001, but a new character.

?That would have been hard for her to do, and she did it so successfully,? Ian says. ?It was so good.?

Ian lost his own wife, Gail, to cancer in 2019. The two of them were married for 50 years, and Ian misses her terribly.

?I?m on my own now and the world can be pretty lonely,? he admits. ?It doesn?t matter how many people you?ve got around you, without your partner for life, oh gee, it?s damn lonely.?

But Ian has been touched by the support he?s received from the cast and crew of Neighbours, as well as the public, since news of his cancer diagnosis was revealed. He says his last day on set was ?wonderful?.

?It was a kick up the backside for a cynical old bugger like me. It was so real, so sincere. I just had to stop and say to myself, ?For God?s sake! These people really do like you!? Youngsters standing in front of me and just crying??

Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young on Neighbours, was one of the many people who got in touch.

?What a superb human being Guy is. By golly. The minute he found out about me, straightaway on the phone. Just lump in the throat time, honestly.

?And I?m doing it now,? he adds, getting choked up. ?Sorry.?

So what?s up next for Ian? Well, he might be making a few phone calls.

?It?s rather funny, because there was a time there when I was supposed to die this coming March, and I was just giving things away,? he says. ?And I feel like ringing up and saying, ?Ay! Give it back! I?m going to keep living, if you don?t mind!??

He?s not feeling any pain ? ?I?m so lucky? ? and he?s able to just appreciate all the little joys that come from having more time left than he thought he had, like eating the tomatoes that are ripening in his garden.

?When I planted them, I said, ?Well, I?ll plant them but I don?t know who?s going to eat them,? because that?s what I thought,? he remembers. ?I?m about to eat them, next week.

?You know what, I feel like I?ve been reborn.?




The DS article:


Neighbours star Ian Smith shares encouraging health update
"That's amazing. It really is."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...cer-treatment/

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours: Madge lookalike brings mystery as Anne Charleston returns
Who is newcomer Agnes?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...hop-lookalike/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours has confirmed further details of legendary cast member Anne Charleston's return to the soap.

Anne ? best known for playing iconic character Madge Bishop ? reappears next week as part of the Australian soap's 40th-anniversary celebrations.

While previous cameos for Anne have seen her appear as visions of Madge, this time she'll be playing a brand new character.

The drama plays out as Nell Rebecchi's exhibition ? 'The Story of Erinsborough' ? is put on display around the Lassiters complex.

The cartoon-style artwork brings extra visitors to the area ? and is the perfect excuse for some classic Neighbours nostalgia in the show's big week.

Anne's new character Agnes Adair is one of the characters who takes an interest in Nell's work.

Unsurprisingly, Agnes feels particularly drawn to an artwork showing Madge.

JJ Varga-Murphy watches the bizarre scene unfold and is struck by how similar Agnes is to Madge, who died 24 years ago.

He quickly brings Nell in on the mystery, and they sneakily take a picture of Agnes when they spot her again. Who is this newcomer, and how will those who knew Madge feel about her presence in Erinsborough?

Anne played the role of Madge between 1986 and 1992, then again between 1996 and 2001.

She later appeared as visions of Madge in the 30th-anniversary episodes in 2015 ? and for a subsequent cameo in the Channel 5 finale episode of Neighbours in 2022.

Anne's return to filming last year came as the soap crafted a touching final storyline for Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop.

Ian was forced to step away from Neighbours permanently last year after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, and his exit scenes air later this year. However, he recently shared a positive health update with fans, revealing that his life expectancy has been extended to Christmas 2026.

Neighbours airs Agnes's first scenes on Monday, March 17.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours mystery deepens as Harold Bishop faces Madge's lookalike
Will he get answers?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...dge-lookalike/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours newcomer Agnes Adair shares an emotional first scene with Harold Bishop as they come face-to-face for the first time next week.

Show bosses have brought back legendary former cast member Anne Charleston to play the role of Agnes ? 24 years after her previous character Madge Bishop died in heartbreaking scenes.

Agnes arrives as part of Neighbours' unmissable 40th anniversary episodes, which kick off a series of dramatic new stories for the soap.

JJ Varga-Murphy is first to spot Agnes as she arrives in town to view Nell Rebecchi's 'Story of Erinsborough' exhibition, which is being displayed around the Lassiters complex.

As JJ has learned lots about Erinsborough's history thanks to Nell's project, he immediately notices the resemblance between Agnes and Madge.

Keen to find out exactly what's going on here, JJ suggests that Agnes should pay a visit to the Eirini Rising retirement community, where Madge's husband Harold lives.

Agnes accepts the offer of a tour and turns up in the recreation room, where she comes face-to-face with Harold as well as the Kennedys.

Everyone is stunned by how much Agnes looks like Madge. As the situation grows awkward, Agnes quickly grows uncomfortable with the attention and threatens to leave.

JJ persuades Agnes to stick around and fills in the blanks by explaining exactly who Madge was.

Agnes admits that she's curious about Madge herself after seeing her illustration as part of the exhibition. However, she firmly insists that she doesn't want to upset Harold and thinks it's best to stay away.

Can JJ convince Agnes to stick around and investigate this mystery properly?

Neighbours airs these scenes on Tuesday, March 18.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video 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 Comedy.

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours confirms Agnes Adair's mysterious connection to Madge Bishop
The strange link between Madge and Agnes is confirmed.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...op-connection/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours delves deeper into the mysterious past of newcomer Agnes Adair in upcoming scenes that confirm her link her to Madge Bishop.

Former cast member Anne Charleston has returned to the show to play the role of Agnes for the show?s 40th anniversary episodes ? 24 years after her former character Madge tragically passed away.

As Erinsborough's residents are surprised by the two characters? resemblance, Agnes paid a visit to Madge?s husband Harold this week, who was overwhelmed by her similarity to his late wife.

In scenes set to air on Wednesday (March 26), the show confirms there is a connection between the two characters after Agnes and JJ Varga-Murphy get hold of documents from a relative.

JJ was the first to spot Agnes as she arrived in town when he spotted the resemblance between her and Madge via a piece of artwork on display at Nell Rebecchi's 'Story of Erinsborough' exhibition.

It was JJ who suggested that Agnes visit the Eirini Rising retirement community, where Madge's husband Harold lives.

In new scenes, Agnes returns to the cafe and runs into Harold again, who invites her to look at a file of family documents he?s been sent by Madge?s brother Tom Ramsay.

They start to look at the papers, but Agnes? resemblance to Madge soon overwhelms Harold, who leaves.

Determined to find out more, Agnes and JJ continue to look through the folder and discover the family connection between the two, as Agnes is related to Madge via her great-grandmother.

Shocked by the revelation, Agnes asks JJ to keep the information from Harold until she processes it. But how long can they keep him in the dark for?

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video 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 Comedy.