After 38 years on screen, fans of hit Aussie soap Neighbours broke down in tears after one of the show’s longest-serving actors finally made the decision to leave Ramsay Street
Soap fans have been left bereft after an acting legend officially quit after 38 years onscreen.
Neighbours has been facing issues with the show’s longevity once again, with the hit Aussie soap facing the chop for a second time. However, stars of the show have been busy with their own lives – including actor Ian Smith, who admitted his role as Harold Bishop stopped him from playing a serial killer.
Now, Ian has finally called time on his almost four-decade stint in Erinsborough. The star finally bid farewell to the series in emotional scenes that had viewers sobbing as they waved goodbye to one of the show’s longest-serving characters.
In scenes that officially aired on Amazon Freevee on Monday night (April 14), Harold upped sticks to move to Queensland. With his bags packed, the character made his way out of Ramsay Street to be with on-screen granddaughter Sky and her wife Lana.
But before he finally left the soap, Harold’s life on Ramsay Street played out before viewers’ eyes, as he recalled all the major moments of his life. In one emotional moment, he reminisced about his late wife Madge, before the community threw him a farewell do that left everyone in floods of tears.
Several long-time actors bid Harold farewell, as many struggled to hold back their emotions. Fans themselves were not spared the heartbreak, with one viewer sobbing: “Goodbye Harold, thanks for the memories.”
A second penned: “Ohhhhh Harold! What a treasure and an absolute pleasure over all these years watching you!
“So bittersweet knowing what is happening for you!” they continued. “You’ve made such an impact; I will miss you on Neighbours.”
Meanwhile a third user admitted the exit had made them cry, adding: “The characters on Neighbours become like family and when an iconic character who has been there in your life through the storylines, it is like losing a member of your family. Thank you for giving us the perfect goodbye to a wonderful man.”
In December last year, it was confirmed that actor Ian was to leave the soap after nearly four decades on Ramsay Street. The actor decided to leave the show behind after being diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of lung cancer, with doctors only giving him three months to live.
But despite the poor prognosis, Ian has been surpassing all expectations and battling the disease hard. Chatting on BBC Radio 5, Ian revealed that thanks to treatment, his tumours have dramatically shrunk in size, meaning there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
Ian first joined the cast of Neighbours shortly after it took off back in 1987, and firmly cemented himself as one of the firm fan favourites of the soap. As Harold, the star was there for some of the show’s biggest moments, including his supposed return from the dead, as well as becoming Charlene Robinson’s stepfather – played by Kylie Minogue.
Neighbours is available to stream on Amazon Freevee.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
