Neighbours has begun Harold Bishop’s exit storyline, as he prepares to depart Erinsborough on a trip around Australia.
Ever since Neighbours‘ first episode back on 18th September, the show has been planting the seeds of a dementia storyline, as Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) has been seen struggling with his memory.
Only hours before Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and Terese’s (Rebekah Elmaloglou) wedding, Jane was shocked to enter into No. 24 and find Harold talking to JJ Varga Murphy (Riley Bryant) about the history of Ramsay Street.
When she asked him why he hadn’t dressed for the wedding yet, his response revealed that he had entirely forgotten.
At first, it appeared that Harold had just forgotten about the street’s past since he was thrilled to have found someone who shared his passion, but later episodes revealed that he was experiencing severe memory problems.
Harold got his buddies to work on updating the history book, and he made it plain to Toadie that he had to do so in order to account for Melanie’s (Lucinda Cowden) departure and his newfound connection to Terese.
Harold was obviously depending on the book to help him remember details about the people closest to him; without it, he would not have been able to recall who they were living with or significant events in their lives. This was evident when he grew anxious after momentarily leaving the book in the coffee shop.
Harold had a weight lifted off his shoulders when he admitted that he had been struggling after Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodburne) sat him down and inquired about his problems.
He took cognitive tests, accepted the idea that aging had finally caught up to him, and braced himself for the worst.
Many fans thought that the producers were setting the stage for Harold to move into assisted living when they saw Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) making arrangements for a retirement community. Many were also anticipating an emotional plot that would see Harold gradually lose his freedom.
However, last week’s episodes saw Harold’s cognitive tests come back with good news – he wasn’t developing Alzheimer’s after all, and Karl assured him that they would get to the bottom of things.
“The results are all good,” Karl explained with some surprise. “You did very well on the cognitive test. That means we can rule out Alzheimer’s and dementia for now. Everything else was clear.”
Then, a chance encounter with new doctor Remi Varga-Murphy (Naomi Rukavina) revealed a potential cause of all of his problems. As Harold and Karl chatted at Harold’s Cafe, Harold spilt his medication. Remi picked them up and was surprised to find a statin pill.
“These statins can have serious side effects when mixed with other medications,” Remi explained.
“You didn’t tell me you were taking these,” said Karl, who was kicking himself that he had taken Harold on his word and hadn’t taken a closer look at the medication Harold was taking. “The important thing is, we may have an answer here!”
After having his medicine adjusted, Harold is already starting to feel better. He discussed his future intentions, which would see his brief stay on Ramsay Street come to an end, in today’s episode, which is available for streaming on Amazon Freevee.
“I think it’s time I went home. Home home,” Harold told Karl and Susan.
Karl and Susan was concerned that he was rushing things, and Karl wanted to ensure that he felt well enough.
“Susan, my mind is clearing,” he laughed, happy to finally have his memory back after weeks of concern.
“All this health talk has given me the jolt I need, I think. All this talk of touring… there’s been a train tour that I’ve been eying up for some time. From Brisbane to Cairns, and you can stop along the way, break it up.”
Karl and Susan was concerned that he was rushing things, and Karl wanted to ensure that he felt well enough.
“I’m as well as I’m ever going to be,” Harold responded. “Terese’s words have inspired me too; old age is a privilege, it’s not handed out to everyone.
“And the time will come when I have to move into age care, I’ll have to find a place close by for Sky and Lana.”
“Until that time, I am gonna fit in everything that I can.”
As one of several former cast members invited back for the show’s then-final episodes, Harold made a comeback to Ramsay Street in 2022.
Subsequently, he was revealed to be among several characters making a comeback for a cameo appearance in “The New Chapter,” including Elly Conway (Jodi Gordon), Lucy Robinson (Melissa Bell), and Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly).
Now, it looks like his guest stint is coming to an end.
Harold left Erinsborough in 2009, but has returned on a number of occasions since – first in 2011, then in 2015, before his returns in 2022 and 2023.
His return in 2015 was as part of the show’s 30th anniversary, which saw a number of old characters reappear. He arrived back for the wedding of Daniel (Tim Phillipps) and Amber (Jenna Rosenow), where it was revealed that he had recently separated from Carolyn Johnstone, who he married in 2011.
Despite having found love again, he was still struggling to get over the death of his beloved Madge (Anne Charleston), who passed away in emotional scenes in 2001.
His return in 2022 saw him clash with Melanie over her upcoming wedding to Toadie. He had his doubts as to whether Melanie was the right person for Toadie, and it seems he was right to be concerned, with Melanie having broken up with Toadie in our two years away from Erinsborough (the show was only off air for a year, but a time jump saw the show’s 2023 return episode set two years after the events of the 2022 finale).
He also comforted Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) after the death of her husband Hendrix (Ben Turland), regaling his own experience of grief after the death of his beloved Madge.
Harold’s many years on Ramsay Street left their mark, and the ‘General Store’ in which he previously worked was renamed as ‘Harold’s Store’, later ‘Harold’s Cafe’, in his honour.
‘Harold’s Cafe’ remains in the rebooted show, and is now presided over by Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar).
Recent scenes have seen the pair bond over the coffee shop’s history, and upcoming episodes will see them make a small addition to the cafe’s decor to honour Harold’s legacy.
New episodes of Neighbours air Monday–Thursday on Network 10 and 10 Peach in Australia, and on Amazon Freevee in the UK.
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