Harold & Madge Back Together!

Ian Smith and Anne Charleston reminisce about their 46-year friendship and reveal their darkest secrets.

- Craig Bennett

Sex scandals, depression, financial nightmares, fraud… Neighbours stars Ian Smith and Anne Charleston have lived through it all and have still maintained their sense of humour. True to form, there were laughs galore, warm hugs and outrageous stories flying when the actors, who became household names playing Harold and Madge Bishop, got together last week.

“We first met on the set of Bellbird in 1971 and – sharing many mutual friends – we often ran into one another at dinner parties,” says jovial Ian, 79, who is nothing like his stuffy TV alter ego Harold.

“We sort of stalked each other’s careers for years,” says Anne, 74.

“We did the rounds of the great Crawford shows like Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police.

“Along came Prisoner. I played some hideous harridan, while Ian multi-tasked: he was a prison official and also the show’s script editor and associate producer.”

HILARIOUS PRANKS

But it was playing Harold and Madge that turned the busy stage and screen veterans into Ramsay Street royalty in more than 60 countries around the world.