Neighbours favourite Ian Smith is calling it quits 21 years after first setting foot on Ramsay Street as Harold Bishop.

The longest-serving character on the popular Australian soap, Smith, 70, cut back his hours on the show last year but will now make his film his final scene in October.

Channel 10 was quick to make clear that the well-meaning but bumbling Harold, who started off his long run on the show in 1987 by falling in love with Madge Ramsay, was being written out at Smith’s request.

Spokesperson Paula Lucarelli told Australian newspapers: "When the discussions were made about his decision to go part-time last year, he said it was only going to be for a short time and then he would let us know. Production was aware that it would be coming.

"It was entirely his decision. We love him and would have loved to keep him."

The actor has been on Ramsay Street for so long that he worked alongside Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan before either had established musical careers. He also took in Craig McLachlan's stint on the show and Alan Dale’s run, before he found fame on The OC, Lost and Ugly Betty, but missed Natalie Imbrulia’s early Nineties rise to fame as Harold was famously presumed dead at sea from 1991 to 1996 when he miraculously reappeared, suffering amnesia.

Harold will be written out after completing a storyline that sees him successfully battle prostate cancer. His final episodes will air in Australia in February, and in the UK on Five next spring.

Lucarelli said Smith wanted to travel and spend more time with his family. She said he was the driving force behind Harold's final storyline, she said.

"It was a big ask for the writing team, because how do you say goodbye to a character who is so loved?" she said.

"Ian was very much involved in the storyline."

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