Editing Harold Bishop (section)

===Guest returns (2011–2023)===
{{Quote box|width=20%|align=right|bgcolor=#cccfff|quote="There's no doubt about it: if there's one person you need in a Ramsay Street crisis, it's Harold Bishop. Famed for his infinite wisdom and charitable ways, he's counselled many a resident through times of trouble – and he'll be doing it all over again when he soon makes his long-awaited return to Erinsborough."<ref name="SOS">{{cite web|url=http://holysoap.channel5.com/neighbours/news/harold-answers-toadies-sos-13594|date=15 April 2011|title=Harold answers Toadie's SOS|publisher=[[Holy Soap]]|access-date=23 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419183026/http://holysoap.channel5.com/neighbours/news/harold-answers-toadies-sos-13594|archive-date=19 April 2011}}</ref>|source=—Holy Soap on Harold's return}}
In December 2010, cast member [[Ryan Moloney]] revealed to ''[[TV Week]]'' that Smith would be returning to ''Neighbours'' in 2011.<ref name="Return">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a295001/harold-bishop-returning-to-ramsay-street.html|title=Harold Bishop returning to Ramsay Street|website=[[Digital Spy]]|first=Paul|last=Millar|date=28 December 2010|access-date=28 December 2010|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190952/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a295001/harold-bishop-returning-to-ramsay-street.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Moloney said Smith would appear "for a little bit" and it was later reported by the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' that Smith would return for six weeks.<ref name="Return"/><ref name="StuffyBack">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/stuffy-harold-back-in-neighbourhood/story-fn6bn80a-1225978263000|title=Stuffy Harold back in neighbourhood|date=30 December 2010|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> Smith began filming his comeback scenes in February 2011.<ref name="StuffyBack"/> He told [[Holy Soap]] that he was surprised when he was asked to return to ''Neighbours'' and after talking with his wife, they agreed that he should go back for a brief stint.<ref name="HaroldHelp">{{cite web|url=http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/news/ian-harold-comes-back-to-help-11685|title=Ian: Harold comes back to help|date=6 January 2011|publisher=[[Holy Soap]]|access-date=6 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108194233/http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/news/ian-harold-comes-back-to-help-11685|archive-date=8 January 2011}}</ref> Smith later revealed that he was returning to work because he had suffered during the recession and wanted to earn some money.<ref name="SixWeekSuper">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/harolds-six-week-super-tour/story-e6frf96x-1226043516137|title=Harold's six-week super tour|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=23 April 2011}}</ref> He also said that the chance to play Harold again was "appealing" and that he did not get a chance to say a proper goodbye to him.<ref name="SixWeekSuper"/> Smith vowed that it would be his last return to the show, as he and his wife have plans to travel through central Australia.<ref name="SixWeekSuper"/>

Harold returned on 9 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scmedia.com.au/content/eguide.aspx?ch=GOLELEVEN:ELEVEN&dd=2011-05-09|title=Monday, 09-May-2011|publisher=[[Southern Cross Media]]|access-date=16 April 2011}}</ref> His return storyline saw him come back to Ramsay Street to help a friend. Smith said that viewers will think they know who it is, but they would be wrong. Smith said "And of course there's human pathos, there's laughs – lots of laughs – [and] a little bit of romance, but I'm not saying who for, because I don't think she/he would like me to let it out. Look, there's a little bit of everything, but the thing is it's all a happy ending and it couldn't be better, and I loved it."<ref name="HaroldHelp"/> Smith pitched one idea for Harold's return and he said that it would be interesting to revisit the character once more.<ref name="HaroldHelp"/> A few months later it was revealed that Harold comes back to Erinsborough after receiving a call for help from [[Toadfish Rebecchi]].<ref name="SOS"/> Not all of Harold's help is "received as graciously as it's given" and Harold's new relationship with [[Carolyn Johnstone]] ([[Paula Duncan]]) was not welcomed by some of the neighbours.<ref name="SOS"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbours.com.au/Harolds_Got_His_Groove_Back.htm|title=Harold's Got His Groove Back|date=31 March 2011|publisher=[[Network Ten]]|access-date=23 April 2011|archive-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510144807/http://neighbours.com.au/Harolds_Got_His_Groove_Back.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith told Sarah from ''Inside Soap'' that when the producers asked him if there was a particular storyline he would like to play, he suggested that Harold should get married and so he returns engaged.<ref name="Hurrah">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesoap.co.uk/inside-story/%e2%80%9cthis-is-harold%e2%80%99s-last-hurrah%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ |title=This Is Harold's Last Hurrah… |author=Sarah |date=13 May 2011 |work=[[Inside Soap]]|access-date=13 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719183002/http://www.insidesoap.co.uk/inside-story/%e2%80%9cthis-is-harold%e2%80%99s-last-hurrah%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref> Harold's news was not well received by his best friend Lou.<ref name="Hurrah"/>

On 16 November 2014, it was announced that Smith had reprised his role for [[Neighbours 30th Anniversary|''Neighbours''' 30th anniversary]] in 2015. It was also confirmed that Harold would be reunited with his deceased wife Madge, who was thought to appear as a ghost.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/iconic-neighbours-couple-madge-and-harold-plan-a-ghostly-return-to-ramsay-street/story-fni0cc2a-1227124164230?nk=b8410e8ca65d96e0f8e7f0a234ed4f29|title=They're back together! Iconic Neighbours couple Madge and Harold plan a ghostly return to Ramsay Street|last=Byrnes|first=Holly|date=16 November 2014|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404021232/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/iconic-neighbours-couple-madge-and-harold-plan-a-ghostly-return-to-ramsay-street/story-fni0cc2a-1227124164230?nk=b8410e8ca65d96e0f8e7f0a234ed4f29|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith initially had some doubts about returning to ''Neighbours'' again, as he was unsure if he remembered what to do.<ref name="Williams"/> He said "I worried about remembering the words for starters, and the first scene I remembered the words but I forgot to act. But it's like falling off the horse. The old horse remembered me and I remembered it and we were fine."<ref name="Williams">{{cite news|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/26252244/happy-returns-for-neighbours/|title=Happy returns for Neighbours|last=Williams|first=Vanessa|date=10 February 2015|work=[[The West Australian]]|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216195922/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/26252244/happy-returns-for-neighbours/|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith also said he was sceptical about the storyline with Madge, believing that it would be "one of those American arising from the dead" plots, but after it was explained to him, he thought it had been "cleverly handled" and revealed that it had been dreamt up by [[Jackie Woodburne]] ([[Susan Kennedy]]).<ref name="Williams"/>

Harold made his on-screen return during the episode broadcast on 17 February 2015.<ref>{{cite journal|date=5–19 February 2015|title=The guides|journal=TV Soap|page=40}}</ref> Harold was reunited with his old friends, Toadie and Lou. When Toadie notices that Harold is quick to change the subject whenever Carolyn is brought up and that he is carrying around a picture of Madge in his wallet, Toadie suspects Harold is hiding something.<ref name="Wulff">{{cite journal|last=Wulff|first=Alana|date=12–25 February 2015|title=Here's Harold!|journal=[[TV Week Soap Extra]]|issue=15|pages=6–7}}</ref> After calling Carolyn, Toadie learns that she and Harold have broken up. Harold admits that he and Carolyn were not quite the soul mates he has thought they were.<ref name="Wulff"/> He also tells Lou that he was embarrassed as his life was not perfect.<ref name="Wulff"/> Harold gives Madge's grandson [[Daniel Robinson (Neighbours)|Daniel]] ([[Tim Phillipps]]) advice about his future wedding to [[Amber Turner]] ([[Jenna Rosenow]]), as he wants Daniel to have realistic expectations about marriage.<ref name="Wulff"/>

In February 2022, Laura-Jayne Tyler of ''Inside Soap'' reported that Smith would be reprising his role to play a part in the show's finale, and that he had already started filming.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tyler|first=Laura-Jayne|date=26 February – 4 March 2022|title=Harold comes home!|magazine=[[Inside Soap]]|issue=9|page=13}}</ref> A week later, Smith's co-star Alan Fletcher confirmed Harold's return, as he spoke about show's final episodes on ''[[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a39267615/neighbours-harold-bishop-return-finale/|title=Neighbours star confirms Harold Bishop return ahead of show's finale|last=Koutsounia|first=Anastasia|date=28 February 2022|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=1 March 2022|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228234322/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a39267615/neighbours-harold-bishop-return-finale/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 May, Smith spoke about reprising his role for the final episodes airing later that year, saying: "It's an absolute pleasure to be back. I'm the biggest sook under the sun. I'm going to be shocking on the last night that ''Neighbours'' airs. It really will be an end of an era and I am so proud to have been a part of it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a39933926/neighbours-final-episodes-23-returnees/|title=Neighbours officially announces 23 returnees for final ever episodes|last=Seddon|first=Dan|date=7 May 2022|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> Harold returned on 18 July in Australia and on 6 July in the UK.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=2–8 July 2022|title=Jelly belly's back!|magazine=[[Inside Soap]]|issue=27|page=30}}</ref> He makes a "surprise arrival" in Erinsborough, where he befriends [[Zara Selwyn]] (Freya Van Dyke) who shares his concerns about her mother [[Amy Greenwood]] ([[Jacinta Stapleton]]), and Toadie and [[Melanie Pearson]]'s ([[Lucinda Cowden]]) engagement. Harold also helps counsel a grieving [[Mackenzie Hargreaves]] ([[Georgie Stone]]) by opening up about his own experiences with grief.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a40424965/neighbours-confirms-harold-bishop-return/|title=Neighbours confirms Harold Bishop's return storylines|last=Hegarty|first=Tasha|date=26 June 2022|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>

In February 2023, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' announced Smith's return to the series in a guest capacity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |title=''Neighbours'' Freevee Revival Adds More Series Regulars, Production Begins This Spring |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/neighbours-amazon-freevee-cast-1235538105/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=28 February 2023 |location=United States |date=28 February 2023 |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601222617/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a42041122/neighbours-return-deal-details/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Silver |first=Carly |title=Seven Series Regulars to Return For Amazon Freevee's ''Neighbours'' Continuation |url=https://daytimeconfidential.com/2023/02/28/seven-series-regulars-to-return-for-amazon-freevees-neighbours-continuation |website=[[Daytime Confidential]] |access-date=28 February 2023 |location=United States |date=28 February 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228172523/https://daytimeconfidential.com/2023/02/28/seven-series-regulars-to-return-for-amazon-freevees-neighbours-continuation |url-status=live }}</ref> He appeared in a guest stint for nine episodes in the first month of the show's reboot. His return plot centred to Harold experiencing memory loss. Alan Fletcher who plays Karl Kennedy, told [[Digital Spy]] that Harold is "exhibiting behaviour that is medically concerning", and that it is "a lot more complex than at first we think it is".<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Daniel|last1=Kilkelly|first2=Sophie|last2=Dainty|date=26 September 2023|title=Exclusive: Neighbours star Alan Fletcher discusses future of emotional Harold story|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a45323101/neighbours-spoilers-alan-fletcher-harold-bishop/|access-date=2 November 2024|website=[[Digital Spy]]|archive-date=25 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725040914/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a45323101/neighbours-spoilers-alan-fletcher-harold-bishop/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later on, local doctor [[Remi Varga-Murphy]] (Naomi Rukavina) identifies that his medication is causing his memory loss.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Daniel |last=Kilkelly |date=5 October 2023 |title=Neighbours resolves Harold Bishop's memory mystery in latest episode |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a45448366/neighbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-mystery-resolved/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725043929/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a45448366/neighbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-mystery-resolved/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Harold departs the series again on 10 October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Stephen |date=10 October 2023 |title=Sad goodbye confirmed for major Neighbours legend as he exits |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/10/neigbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-exits-19641316/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |archive-date=24 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624125323/https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/10/neigbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-exits-19641316/ |url-status=live }}</ref>