Smith: 'Fans mobbed me at funeral'

Veteran Neighbours star Ian Smith has revealed that he was furious when fans approached him at his dad's funeral.

The 69-year-old, who has played Harold Bishop in the Australian soap for 21 years, said he was suddenly spotted while laying his father to rest.

He is quoted as saying: "I was at my father's funeral and people from another funeral came over and mobbed me!

"I told them to go away as it was so odd and tasteless. I was meant to be mourning my dad and they'd been mourning someone else. Then they rushed over calling out, 'Harold Bishop!'"

Smith recently claimed that he stopped Neighbours' producers introducing a gay storyline for his character.