TV fans everywhere, let us pay tribute to one of our most endearing soap characters with a resounding and united “Daahrr”.

That’s right, Harold – and his slightly annoying, oh alright charming, vocal exclamation that is almost as well-known as Homer's D'oh – is leaving Neighbours.

According to a report on tvtonight.com.au, Ian Smith is retiring from the Channel 10 series, having played the loveable king of all things fuddy-duddy on and off since 1987.

Bespectacled and bumbling, Harold is up there with television’s greats.

Somehow, even despite the fact that he volunteered with the Salvos, played the tuba (?) and was a vegetarian, he was cool.

Somehow, even though he went through a seriously weird phase back there when he had amnesia and also when he was fixated on killing Paul Robinson, we all wanted him for our grandfather (albeit after some serious medication and therapy).

And now, after all this time, we are left to wonder who will sport The General Store apron as proudly as Harold did come next year, when he is tipped to leave our screens.

Now, who will larrikin Lou get up to mischief with? Who will Ramsay Street’s troubled teens turn to for advice? Who will give every speaking cast member a free milkshake/muffin/coffee/breakfast/lunch/dinner if they are feeling down?

Who will unite this funny old community in their hours of need?

Erinsborough’s Mister Fix-It/gardening guru/neighbourhood watchman/pep talk expert and wise old man of the ’burbs is packing up and moving out – for good.

And there goes the neighbourhood. Honestly.

I reckon after a year of roll-your-eyes-not-another-new-face character switches and introductions (the latest of which is Australian Idol hopeful Dean Geyer ), this move may send Neighbours tottering onto very unstable legs and will spell the end of its run.

Yep, mark my words, this time next year, we will be watching The Simpsons Hour on Ten from 6pm, Monday to Friday.

But Harold’s tragic departure does beg the question: Which of our TV veterans will succumb to the ravages of the retirement curse next?

Flamin’hell, it better not be Alf Stewart. Strewth, otherwise a viewing public will be forced to strike themselves pink while many a (mourning) crow is stoned. (Feel free to insert any of your own Alfisms here, for those of you fluent in Alfish – and that’s NOT the lingo those galahs in the Lord of the Rings speak either.)

And it better not be George Negus. I like to tune in every week just to inspect his moustache, out of curiosity, as if I am checking on a bowl of sea monkeys that grow and change almost before my eyes.

But I do hope the retirement bug loads up its sting and makes a beeline for: Channel Seven on Tuesdays around 7.30pm and bites a few of the male hosts; Channel Nine on Sunday mornings; Channel Nine on weekday mornings; Channel Nine on Saturday evenings; Channel Nine on Mondays at 7pm; Channel Nine most days and nights of the week, actually, and Channel 10 at 2pm and 3.30pm weekdays when the most teeth-grindingly irritating male TV “personalities” (and I use that term lightly) try to out-annoy each other: Peter Everett and Ian Huey Hewitson.

Farewell, Harold, you made a better vegetarian lasagne than these two fakers ever could!

– REBECCA MARSHALL

Will you be mourning Harold’s departure? Which TV personalities would you rather to see retire from our living rooms?