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

[Pantherboy]

Ds article:


Neighbours star Ian Smith reveals future of Harold's return story
"The sentimental fool is back there and loving his girl."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...urn-interview/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours reintroduces one of its most legendary characters next week as Harold Bishop moves back to Erinsborough.

Harold is taking up residence at the Eirini Rising retirement complex, which has its grand opening on Tuesday (May 28) after months of careful planning from Terese Willis and Jane Harris.

Fans will see Harold re-added to the Neighbours opening titles to reflect the fact that he's living in Erinsborough permanently again.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Ian Smith, who plays Harold, for a chat about his comeback storyline.

We've seen you pop in and out of Neighbours since bowing out as a regular in 2009. What made you want to come back on a more permanent basis this time?

"Oh no, it's not on a permanent basis, I promise you! No, it's back on a 'bits and bobs' basis. I'm not sure whether they asked me to come back full time or not, but if they had, I would have said no because I am retired.

"But I'm back for one day a week and gee-whizz, it's a luxury to have that one day a week. How many older actors get that luxury? It's wonderful to keep busy."

How did the return come about?

"I received the call out of the blue. I was standing on a pier, with a fishing rod in my hand, and my phone went. It was the boss asking me whether I'd come back. We did so much talking, I think it was at least half an hour.

"At the end of it, I was back on the show doing bits and bobs and a smile came back on my face for the first time in a while. It was fun, I like phone calls like that."

We've seen you pop in and out of Neighbours since bowing out as a regular in 2009. What made you want to come back on a more permanent basis this time?

"Oh no, it's not on a permanent basis, I promise you! No, it's back on a 'bits and bobs' basis. I'm not sure whether they asked me to come back full time or not, but if they had, I would have said no because I am retired.

"But I'm back for one day a week and gee-whizz, it's a luxury to have that one day a week. How many older actors get that luxury? It's wonderful to keep busy."

How did the return come about?

"I received the call out of the blue. I was standing on a pier, with a fishing rod in my hand, and my phone went. It was the boss asking me whether I'd come back. We did so much talking, I think it was at least half an hour.

"At the end of it, I was back on the show doing bits and bobs and a smile came back on my face for the first time in a while. It was fun, I like phone calls like that."

Does Harold make friends with any of the new younger characters?

"Well, I'll tell you about Ian making friends with the young'uns. They're the nicest... actually no, they're not the nicest ? they're the same as the ones before!

"I have been so lucky with several things. I've had several television wives, not just in this show but other shows. I've been lucky with every single one. I've had children in so many shows, and been lucky with every single one of them.

"That continues and I've just been one of the luckiest people in the show, and I don't want that to change, thank you very much!"

Is Harold excited to be part of the new Eirini Rising development?

"Yes, it all goes well, except for one thing ? I have trouble saying 'Eirini Rising'. Every time you watch the show now and I say 'Eirini Rising', you'll know it'll be the second take because I blundered the first! When I first joined the show, I couldn't say Erinsborough either. But that was the thing that gave me trouble.

"I loved this storyline ? it was a good idea. It fitted in with myself so well, because I'm 85 now and I'm getting to a point where it's harder to cook for myself, or to clean the house and all that sort of thing.

"I went looking for a similar place for myself, but it just wasn't for me. The people that were there were younger than me in years, but they were embracing their age and I can't do that.

"So I went home, got a house cleaner and a gardener, and I'm very happily living at home. So they will be carrying me out!"

Hilary Robinson is also moving into Eirini Rising. Do Hilary and Harold have much to do with each other?

"A little, but not an awful lot. I must say, I thought when she first showed up on set: 'Hello, is she going to be a match-up for Harold?' But I don't think she is."

Madge will always be Harold's one true love, but would you like to see him find love again?

"No! I'd like to stay honest to Madge. Maybe I'm a bit sentimental like that."

Is there anything else you can tease about what's coming up for Harold?

"I honestly don't know. I sometimes get ahead of myself if I know what's happening. That's not always a bad thing ? sometimes I get an idea that can follow on from what they've got planned for me. Sometimes they use it, sometimes they don't.

"But it takes up too much of my retirement, because I get serious and I sit at home in my tiny little office typing away there and thinking: 'Come on, they won't even use it'. But they do sometimes, they're very nice like that."

So have you been able to pitch ideas for Harold in the past?

"Oh yes, and it keeps my interest up in front of the camera too, because you see your ideas coming into fruition and it is good."

Would you like to see Harold's granddaughter Sky come back to the show?

"Oh yes, that would be lovely ? start that rumour, okay? Rumours do build!

"There was a rumour once that I was going to be in Doctor Who. Well, I can't tell you how that rumour grew. Imagine, Harold in Doctor Who!

"Sky has kids too ? maybe that's why she wouldn't be brought back because they'd have to pay for the kids too. But if she comes back, it's your fault! (Laughs.)"

Will there be lots of scenes between Harold, Karl and Susan?

"Yes, lots of scenes with them. Thank God, it's lovely to work with the oldies. When you work with new people, you walk on the set, talk a bit of gibberish I suppose, and that's getting to know the new people.

"You don't have to with the oldies, you just look at them and say 'don't mess up my shots, let's do it!'"

We miss the Harold and Lou dynamic! Are you still in touch with Tom Oliver?

"That was fun, wasn't it? Yes. I am in touch with him. We're both mad gardeners. We always knock on each other's door with a handful of cuttings, it's the silliest thing. Although he's quite rude ? he'll just say 'I've already got that, no I don't want that'. (Laughs.) There's none of your niceness about it at all!"

Who else would you like to see back on Ramsay Street?

"Joe Mangel, I had lots of fun with him!"

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.