Neighbours legend Ian Smith discusses future as Harold Bishop

 "I do want to retire."

Neighbours fans will agree that Ian Smith, who has played Harold Bishop on and off on the show since 1987, deserves a nice retirement.

Smith, who first left the show in 1991 but returned in 1996, 2011, 2015 and again for last year's would-be finale, is part of the guest cast for Amazon Freevee's upcoming revival.

Smith took part in Melbourne's Neighbours: The Celebration Tour this week, when he was asked about long-term goals.

He said (via TV Tonight): "I do want to retire. They've been so kind to let me come back to do bibs and bobs."

As for what we can expect from Harold in the all-new Neighbours, Smith reassured assured the event's attendees that his character's often combustible personality won't be diminished.

"People know that he can turn in a second," he noted. "If he thinks there's been an injustice done he will fight like fire.

"But if he gets caught in a corner he can be a little bit stupid. He'll blunder and bluster around until he gets out of it."

Meanwhile, Smith's co-star Alan Fletcher has praised the all-new Neighbours as "even better" than the original.

"I've been doing this show for 28 years, the show's been going for 37 years. It changed over that time, the production values increased. But now we get to do a re-do," he began.

"It'll still be the same show... but we will be able to make it even better. I think this next season is gonna be incredibly exciting."