NEIGHBOURS icon Harold Bishop is making his official comeback to the Channel 5 soap before it goes off the air for good later this year. However, in a new theory generated by Express.co.uk, he could be returning to bring the character’s story to a deadly end.
Harold (Ian Smith) is one of the most well-known characters on Neighbours, having starred on the show on and off since 1987. The former Ramsay Street resident left the Channel 5 soap in 2009 after a long run, but his name has long been associated with the café on the Lassiters Hotel complex. The legend was put in a lot of dangerous circumstances throughout his time on the show, but he always came out alive in the end.
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He may declare he is dying and wants to see the location he has called home for so many years one last time, which would be a fitting finale to the episode.
Following the announcement last month that the show would be ending after 37 years, it was announced that Ian, the actor who plays Harold, had agreed to appear in the final few episodes.
Despite the fact that filming wrapped in June and the last episodes will air in August, the soap star is already back on set.
Ian was featured in a video made on the official Neighbours Twitter page earlier this week to commemorate the show’s 37th anniversary.
“Happy birthday, Neighbours, on your 37th birthday,” the actor exclaimed as he stood in front of his character’s café, letting out a loud sigh.
It is known that the soap operas film scenes three months before they air, therefore Harold is expected to return in June/July.
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Writers have been busy determining how many current residents’ stories will conclude, as well as providing updates and bringing former characters’ lives to a finale.
Harold might reconcile with Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne), Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Maloney), and Paul Robinson, according to a fresh idea published by Express.co.uk (Stefan Dennis).
He could be returning under the guise of wanting to check on the café after Dipi Rebecchi (Sharon Johal) departed Ramsay Street, but there could be a more tragic motive for his return.
The iconic figure may tell his friends that he is dying and only has a few weeks left to live, and that he wants to spend his time going down memory lane.
Harold going away surrounded by his loved ones could be one of the final sequences of the finale, signaling the end of the show as well.
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Harold’s death would be a look back at the past, a current-day look at the present, and a look forward to the future as some newer characters pay tribute to the character after he dies.
After Channel 5 removed its financing for the show, the writers and producers wanted the show to end in this way.
Jason Herbison, executive producer, had this to say about the finale: “I like to think that Ramsay Street will live on in the hearts and thoughts of fans long after the final scene.
“I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever
He told TV Tonight, “The ending will be a celebration of the past and present, with the door very much left open for a future.”
Before the show concludes this summer, Jason mentioned bringing some old Ramsay Street inhabitants back into the storyline.
According to the executive producer, “One of my greatest thrills in recent years has been bringing back many old characters, something the program appeared hesitant to do in the past.
“So I’m hoping some of these faces, as well as others we haven’t been able to get back yet, return.
“I really believe that the finale must also be a celebration of the existing cast. Karl, Susan, Toadie, and Paul have all earned their proper position in the spotlight.”
These four characters, who have been at the heart of the show for the past 37 years, could be the ones that assist Harold reflect on the past.
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Speaking on ITV’s This Morning last month, the actor who plays Karl, Alan, discussed Ian’s return to the programme as Harold.
The soap star said: “I can’t give away any spoilers on that yet but that’s going to be the joy of those last episodes. Just sitting there and going ‘oh look who’s here!’
“I do know that it has been announced the wonderful Harold Bishop will return to Ramsay Street towards the end of the show.
“Someone from Karl’s sordid past is definitely coming back and there are many, many other names in the pot.
“I can assure you that the producers are working very, very hard to try and entice some of the most loved characters from Neighbours to at least make some appearances,” he added, so could Harold also be the instigator behind the face from Karl’s past returning to Ramsay Street?
Fans are certainly eager to see Harold again and want to know what he has been up to during his time away from Ramsay Street.
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Taking to Twitter, viewer Gari wrote: “I’m going to miss Harold the most.”
Let’s All Have A Disco posted: “Looks like Harold and Scott will be returning for the big #Neighbours finale.”
Natalie added: “So glad we’ll get to see Harold one last time. If this is really the end, they should have Scott and Charlene buy Sheila’s house and they literally just show up in the last scene moving back into the old Robinson house #Neighbours #SaveNeighbours.”
Will viewers be shedding a few tears if Harold does end up dying?
