Editing Harold Bishop (section)

===Permanent return (2024–2025)===
On 8 April 2024, it was announced that Smith would return to the series on a permanent basis.<ref name=Returnoftheking>{{Cite web|title=Neighbours announces return of Harold Bishop after 15 years|first=Joe|last=Anderton|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60424838/neighbours-harold-bishop-return-2024/|date=8 April 2024|access-date=8 April 2024|archive-date=8 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408082202/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60424838/neighbours-harold-bishop-return-2024/|url-status=live}}</ref> Joe Anderton of ''[[Digital Spy]]'' expressed surprise at the announcement, as Smith had stated his desire to retire the previous year.<ref name=Returnoftheking /> Smith later clarified that he had agreed to work on the series one day per week.<ref name=HaroldRising>{{cite web|title=Neighbours star Ian Smith reveals future of Harold's return story|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|work=[[Digital Spy]]|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60870196/neighbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-return-interview/|date=22 May 2024|access-date=24 May 2024|archive-date=23 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523212101/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60870196/neighbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-return-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harold's return aired on 28 May of that year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neighbours legend Ian Smith confirms return date|first=Iona|last=Rowan|work=[[Digital Spy]]|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60643397/neighbours-ian-smith-return-date/|date=30 April 2024|access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> On-screen, Harold returns to Erinsborough to live at the [[Erinsborough#Eirini Rising|Eirini Rising]] retirement complex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neighbours shares first look at Harold's return and new set|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|work=[[Digital Spy]]|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60694488/neighbours-spoilers-harold-return-new-set/|date=6 May 2024|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508192311/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a60694488/neighbours-spoilers-harold-return-new-set/|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith ascribed Harold's move to sentimentality, noting that he feels closer to Madge when in Erinsborough.<ref name=HaroldRising />

On 2 December 2024, Smith announced that he had recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of terminal lung cancer, and that as a consequence he had left the role of Harold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tia |date=2 December 2024 |title=Ian Smith departs Neighbours following cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/neighbours-ian-smith-cancer/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=[[Now to Love]] |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202070033/https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/neighbours-ian-smith-cancer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 December 2024 |title=Neighbours star Ian Smith reveals terminal cancer diagnosis |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/neighbours-star-ian-smith-reveals-cancer-diagnosis/104674956 |access-date=2 December 2024 |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202101352/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/neighbours-star-ian-smith-reveals-cancer-diagnosis/104674956 |url-status=live }}</ref> Smith stated that doctors labelled his cancer as "non-fixable" and that they "expect him to die".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2024 |title=Neighbours actor Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, reveals terminal diagnosis |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2024-12-02/neighbours-ian-smith-who-plays-harold-bishop-reveals-terminal-diagnosis |website=[[ITV News]] |access-date=2 December 2024 |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202203854/https://www.itv.com/news/2024-12-02/neighbours-ian-smith-who-plays-harold-bishop-reveals-terminal-diagnosis |url-status=live }}</ref> Smith spoke to ''[[10 News First]]'' about his diagnosis and final day on set.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Lyndsey |last=Rodrigues |date=2 December 2024 |title="They expect me to die": Beloved Neighbours icon makes devastating announcement |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/neighbours-star-ian-smith-set-to-exit-soap-following-terminal-cancer-diagnosis-very-aggressive-051512945.html |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=[[Yahoo! Lifestyle]] |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202192009/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/neighbours-star-ian-smith-set-to-exit-soap-following-terminal-cancer-diagnosis-very-aggressive-051512945.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed that Harold would have a "proper send-off", and it was also revealed that Charleston had returned to the series in a new role as part of Harold's departure.<ref>{{Cite web |first=David|last=Knox|date=2 December 2024|title=Ian Smith reveals cancer diagnosis |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/12/ian-smith-reveals-cancer-diagnosis.html |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref>

The beginning of Harold's exit storyline is previewed in spoilers and pictures for the ''Neighbours 40th Anniversary'' week released by [[Digital Spy]]. Spoiler pictures show the arrival of Charleston's new character [[List of Neighbours characters introduced in 2025#Agnes Adair|Agnes Adair]], and spoilers reveal that she will be spotted by JJ looking at a picture of Madge on the Story of Erinsborough display, who will be "struck by how similar" Agnes is to Madge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Neighbours: Madge lookalike brings mystery as Anne Charleston returns |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a64060321/neighbours-spoilers-madge-bishop-lookalike/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref> Further spoilers reveal that JJ will introduce Agnes to Harold, who is "stunned by how much" she looks like Madge, however, this makes Agnes "grow awkward" and she "threatens to leave".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Neighbours mystery deepens as Harold Bishop faces Madge's lookalike |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a64135534/neighbours-spoilers-harold-faces-madge-lookalike/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref> Harold's introduction to Agnes is previewed in a promotional trailer released on ''Neighbours'' social media accounts, which shows him taken aback and referring to her as Madge, before saying "No it can't be, you're dead."<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ1jj-L-kEk |title=Neighbours 40th Anniversary Week {{!}} Teaser |date=2025-03-10 |last=Neighbours Official Channel |access-date=2025-03-14 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Further spoiler pictures reveal that Harold would continue to get to know and spend time with Agnes at Eirini Rising.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Neighbours confirms shock death and Wendy return in 31 pictures |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/g64113112/neighbours-spoiler-pictures-shock-death-wendy-return/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Charleston's return was devised prior to Smith's diagnosis to build towards an eventual exit for Harold, before Smith's health required the storyline to be truncated and redeveloped. It was structured to provide potential exit points for Harold each week, due to uncertainty around how long Smith would be able to film for.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neighbours at 40: a TV milestone, soapie twists and a sense of déjà vu|first=David|last=Knox|work=[[TV Tonight]]|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/03/neighbours-at-40-a-tv-milestone-soapie-twists-and-a-sense-of-deja-vu.html|date=14 March 2025|access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Neighbours boss shares exciting spoilers for 40th anniversary and show's final months|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|work=[[Digital Spy]]|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a64206725/neighbours-spoilers-40th-anniversary-show-finale/|date=17 March 2025|access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref> Harold's final episode aired on 14 April 2025, showing the character deciding to return to his family in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a64344784/neighbours-spoilers-harold-bishop-exit-story/ | title=Neighbours reveals Harold Bishop's emotional exit storyline | website=[[Digital Spy]] }}</ref> Shortly after his on-screen departure, it was revealed that an "additional moment" Smith filmed before his departure would be shown later in the year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=One more time for Harold Bishop|first=David|last=Knox|work=[[TV Tonight]]|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/04/one-more-time-for-harold-bishop.html|date=16 April 2025|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>