Harold to rap

The man behind Neighbours' character Harold Bishop is to release a rap in a bid to top the UK charts.

11:05 08 September 2004

The man behind Neighbours' character Harold Bishop is to release a rap in a bid to top the UK charts.

Generations of teenagers have grown up mesmerised by the many chins of Harold, who joined the Aussie soap in 1986.

The character has proved one of the show's most enduring. Married to Madge in 1988, Harold was swept out to sea in 1992. After a five-year absence he was spotted by Helen Daniels, returned to the show and has been ever-present from that point onwards.

And now Ian Smith, who plays the coffee shop owner, looks set to follow Kylie, Holly Valance and Natalie Imbruglia and move into the music world.

The Sun reported this morning that he will be releasing a rap to try and win the Christmas No.1 spot.

"I'm working on a track called I Am Not A Pop Star. It has a hip-hop feel. I go into the studio in a month," Ian told the newspaper.

"Hopefully I'll top the charts by the end of the year. I think it's a lot of fun and my mates are already calling me Puff Grandaddy."

Possible lyrics for the song
I play Harold B and I'm here to say,
My music is grooving, gonna blow you away,
You may be a dag or beaut today,
But since Magde got cancer I've been out to play

I'm looking for lines where the rhythm is looser,
I'm top trombonist and a record producer,
In my coffee shop I become the seducer,
My name's Harold B the loving reproducer

Guess who's back, back from sea,
Guess who's back, yes it's me,
Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back.....