‘Dying changes you’: TV legend speaks out on terminal cancer diagnosis

Neighbours legend Ian Smith has said he’s ‘lived the most privileged life’ following a terminal cancer diagnosis. The 86-year-old, who has portrayed beloved Ramsay Street stalwart Harold Bishop intermittently since 1987, received his diagnosis – a cancer known as pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma – last year. ‘I found out a few months back that I have cancer,’ he told 10 News First at the beginning of December.

‘I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to… they expect me to die.’. ‘I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can,’ he said. ‘If they can do that, I’m very happy. But I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain, because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.’. His final storyline will begin next month, with it being his wish that former co-star Anne Charleston, who played Harold’s wife Madge between 1986 and 2001, return.

Following the character’s death, she made two returns as a ghostly vision in 2015 and 2022. She is now set to portray an entirely different role, though exact details have been kept under wraps for now. In a new interview, Ian has discussed how the chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment has affected him. ‘[It’s] the first time I’ve been bald since I was a baby,’ he explained. ‘Apart from no hair, you can’t tell I’m sick at all.’.

Ian told The Guardian that his doctor cried when he delivered the diagnosis. ‘I thought I would be stronger, but I am as a weak as any human. ‘Dying does change how you live. I vainly say I am a better person now, but I think I am more forgiving, more understanding. ‘It is a pity that I couldn’t have come to all these realisations [before] I was sick – I could have done somebody some good in the world.’.

Just weeks after he opened up about his health publicly, he received a phone call to tell him that the two tumours in his chest had shrunk significantly. ‘That’s why I’ve got this solid grin on my face,’ he told the publication. ‘Apart from being 86, I feel good. I’m in no pain. I know how strange that sounds. I know I have cancer, because doctors keep telling me I have it. ‘I may get very sick again one day. But I have lived the most privileged life.’.

Last year, Ian discovered that he qualified for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) medication, with the pharmacist contacting him to ask if she should arrange for the drugs to be sent to his home. ‘And I said no,’ he admitted. ‘I’m awfully glad I did, too, because there have been times I would have taken it. I really would have. And I would have missed out on that wonderful day in December when I was told of my progress.

‘My first thought was: “My God, I could have been dead.” And I would have been, if I’d had the mixture at home.’. Despite that, he supports assisted dying, having lost his parents and wife of over 50 years, Gail, die of cancer. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who’s leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale?. Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews.

Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers!. ‘I just disagree with it being left in the home. For so many reasons – you could be robbed! It is as good as a loaded gun.’. He was initially told that he had just months to live, with his expectancy first changed to this Christmas, and is now Christmas 2026.

‘I am in this funny, vacuous place. They can’t say the cancer has gone – in fact, they mustn’t, because it has come back in other people and they have died of it. ‘But honestly, if they told me it had come back now, I would be ready this time.’. His cancer journey will be followed in a documentary, which received funding because he was deemed ‘culturally significant.’. ‘Culturally significant!’ he laughed.

‘I rang my agent and said: “I give you permission to tell your friends that you knew me”, and he said: “God, I was hoping they wouldn’t tell you.”‘. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: I’ve watched EastEnders for 40 years – all 7,066 episodes.

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