Veteran Neighbours star Ian Smith has revealed his dying wish given after being diagnosed with terminal cancer last year.
The actor, 86, who played soap stalwart Harold Bishop announced in December he has pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, a rare form of the disease.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Ian revealed that he was ‘defying the odds’ after initially being told he would die by March this year.
‘I’ve got cancer, yes, I’m going to die soon but I seem to be defying the odds, which is good,’ Ian revealed.
Ian added that he still had at least one more thing to tick off his bucket list.
‘I’m now thinking of buying a new car. That’s not what you do if you’re going to die in March,’ he revealed.
Veteran Neighbours star Ian Smith has revealed his dying wish given after being diagnosed with terminal cancer last year. Pictured
‘I’m determined to have an electric car before I die. And I was speaking to a salesman. I said, “Now, what about the delivery? Can you get to me before I’m dead?” And he was so shocked! I said, “Come on, let’s have a giggle.”‘
Ian received news he would outlive his original prognosis just before Christmas.
‘I took the second chance and I had to say to myself, “What are you going to do with it?” he said.
‘I’m still not sure I’ve worked out the answer to that but I’m certainly not going to mope around.’
In January, Ian told TV Week his cancerous tumour had been shrinking after three rounds of treatment, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
‘I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were “significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour,”‘ he said at the time.
‘I’ve gone from a threat of dying this coming March to maybe a few more months…and now, God, who knows?
‘It’s not a cure and it won’t be a cure, but I certainly have got a year, maybe two. That’s amazing. It really is.’
The actor, 86, who played soap stalwart Harold Bishop announced in December he has pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, a rare form of the disease
Ian stepped down from his popular role on Neighbours last year amid his terminal cancer battle.
Back in 2016, the Herald Sun compiled a list of the best n television characters of the last 60 years and Harold Bishop came in at a respectable number 12, between Kath and Kim’s Sharon Strzelecki and Home And Away’s Bobby Simpson.
Speaking to Daily Mail in 2017, Ian admitted he was unaware of the auspicious honour but hoped Harold’s legacy would promote positive family relationships.
‘I’m a little proud of myself,’ a surprised Ian admitted. ‘He’s a silly old fart but there’s something in Harold that everyone likes.
‘It’s like the young kids come up to me and say, “you’re like my granddad” or “you’re just like my father.”
‘If I can grab that and turn it into something where I can say “go and hug your father” – I never hugged my father, I only kissed him for the first time 10 minutes after he died.’
Ian, who has seen the likes of Delta Goodrem, Margot Robbie and Kylie Minogue start their careers on the iconic soap, admitted that he was often surprised with the level of success his former co-stars had achieved.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live , Ian revealed that he was ‘defying the odds’ after initially being told he would die by March this year
‘I’m now thinking of buying a new car. That’s not what you do if you’re going to die in March,’ he revealed. Ian is pictured with Neighbours co-star Jackie Woodburne
‘I’ve had to hang my head in shame on a few occasions as I had no idea certain actors would go on to be so huge,’ he said.
‘I always knew Kylie was going to be a great success. I just didn’t know how big. I remember seeing her in the green room on the phone talking to someone who wanted her to stand behind a product.
‘The way she handled that conversation was just outstanding. She could’ve given lessons in it and I thought, “You’re going to go far.”‘
He added that the biggest surprise was Guy Pearce.
‘I’d always pegged him as just a competent young actor not the huge Hollywood star he is today. I remember my jaw dropped when I saw him in Priscilla,’ he said.