Bradley Walsh reveals 'lonely' reason he loves working with son Barney on TV
Gladiators host Bradley Walsh has disclosed the poignant reason behind his gratitude for teaming up with his son Barney on screen. Working together on the revamped Gladiators.
The popular father-son pair, known for their collaborative hosting of the return of Gladiators on BBC, has been a hit with viewers. They also starred in the travel series Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad, in which they embarked on adventures across various countries in an RV and participated in numerous challenges.
Bradley, age 64, expressed how valuable the opportunity to work alongside his son Barney is, especially against the backdrop of his solitary life in showbiz. While speaking to the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner podcast, he said: "This is a beautiful thing. Our job when I've been a stand-up or when I've been in shows, sometimes it's quite a lonely gig really, it's quite a lonely old life."
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He continued by saying that working with family members is exceptionally rewarding, calling it: "To be able to work with members of your family is an extraordinary thing. I think that's a fantastic thing. It's a blessing."
Since the broadcast of the first series of Breaking Dad on ITV in 2019, the duo has worked closely, with Barney growing increasingly comfortable on camera. The relationship dynamic has even shifted on set, as Bradley revealed: "What's happened is we started doing the travel show when he was about 18.", reports the Express.
With both experience and age, Barney, now 26, has developed into a more prominent presence during productions. Bradley shared insights into their current professional interaction, remarking: "He's now 26, so I've seen him grow. When we're doing Gladiators in front of an arena with 4,000 people in it, he knows that eight or nine million people will watch it; he's now producing me a little bit on the floor."
"He's now learned as he's gone along. He's completely learned that whole process. The dynamic has gone kind of full circle, so it's quite cool."
Bradley, a father of two, is also celebrated for hosting the hit quiz show 'The Chase', which first graced our screens in 2009 and continues its successful run after broadcasting thousands of episodes on ITV.
The presenter shared some warm sentiments about the team behind the show, revealing how close they are: "It's such an enjoyable show to do, it really is. We've become great friends."
He also spoke about the impact the show has had beyond the screen, "I was at an awards thing the other night and I said something to the audience, which is true. We're a very transient show. If you've got youngsters who come into the industry, they come to us and they learn on our show."
Bradley highlighted the show's educational role in the television industry, stating, "We pass them on to bigger and better shows throughout television. We're very proud of that fact. We even joke, since we've started we've given birth to about a dozen, 14 or 15 kids."
Viewers can tune in to see Bradley and Barney on 'Gladiators' tonight (Saturday, January 25) at 5:50 pm on BBC One.