Neighbours star Ian Smith, known for playing Harold Bishop in the Australian soap, has announced his departure from the show after revealing he has terminal cancer.

The 86-year-old actor said in an interview with Australia’s 10 News First that he has a rare form of lung cancer, called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

Speaking to presenter Angela Bishop, he said: “I found out a few months back that I have cancer, that I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to die.”

Smith first appeared on the show in 1987 as an old flame of Madge, played by Anne Charleston.