Millions of fans around the world know him affectionately as Harold Bishop, the slightly daggy star of the television soapie Neighbours. But until now, none knew Ian Smith's real life story encompasses a drama more remarkable than any script he has ever performed. Ian's character, Harold Bishop has had a fair share of triumphs and tragedies for nearly 20 years. But Ian's discovery of the truth about his identity and his real parents was a shock no rehearsal could have prepared him for. It has been a case of reality outdoing the soap opera and it's seen the beginning of a remarkable relationship between Ian and a woman who had never heard of Neighbours. Finding and loving people who are related by blood for the first time has been a bittersweet experience for Ian, and the twist his story takes underscores the old saying that life imitates art and truth really is stranger than fiction.
—Australian Story