Yahoo News Is Bradley Walsh on TV too much or the saviour of primetime?
The host of The Chase and Gladiators appeared in three shows back-to-back on Saturday night.
It seems there's no escaping Bradley Walsh on prime time TV these days.
The 63-year-old broadcaster is the presenter of the hit new family gameshow Gladiators, fronting the BBC's reboot of the 90s show on Saturday night at 5.50pm. The same night he was also hosting an episode of The Chase: Celebrity Special at 5pm on ITV1, and then he made a cameo appearance on Michael MacIntyre's Big Show on BBC One at 6.50pm.
And in Ireland he even appeared on RTE chat show the Tommy Tiernan show as well.
Walsh is certainly popular with many viewers — but but some started to complain that three shows in a row on one night was a bit much. One wrote on social media platform X: "Anyone else think #BradleyWalsh is on the tv far too much now… He was even on #michaelmcintyre ! And why has his son got a prime time job that some wait years for it never get? I’m sure he’s a nice lad but it seems unfair?"
Another said: "Have turned on the tv 3 times today to be greeted by Bradley Walsh he's everywhere... Must have borrowed the TARDIS." Plus, someone else commented: "Bradley Walsh on every channel tonight and his son Barney. The Gladiators, The Chase , Beat the Chasers, Michael MC Intyre show, Tommy Tiernan show. Hell probably get goal of the month on Match Of the Day too."
Actor and TV presenter Walsh's career really took off hosting Wheel Of Fortune on ITV back in 1997. And since then he really has proved to be a man of many talents with roles in soap Coronation Street, hit sci fi drama Doctor Who, umpteen presenting roles and even his own series with son Barney Walsh. Barney Walsh, who co-hosts Gladiators with his dad, is also starring in BBC Saturday night medical drama Casualty.
But is he on TV too much? Here are all the places you might have seen Bradley Walsh on TV recently.
Gladiators
Walsh hosts Gladiators with his so Barney Walsh as a father and son double act. The physical challenge game show is a reboot of the host 90s series presented by Ulrika Jonsson and footballer John Fashanu. Contestants take on trained Gladiators in fitness challenges while Bradley and Barney look on and chat to them afterwards. Barney told OK magazine: "I think the beauty of us doing it as a pair is that it’s a complete generational thing. And the people who watched the original Gladiators are all grown up with children of their own." The reboot of Gladiators is currently winning the ratings battle for Saturday night TV.
The Chase, Beat The Chasers and The Chase: Celebrity Special
Walsh has hosted popular gameshow The Chase since 2009. The quiz show airs on ITV every weekday at 5pm. It has also spawned spin-offs Beat The Chasers and primetime show The Chase Celebrity. Walsh has admitted: “It seems like I’m on your screen all the time only because I cram everything in a certain area of the year. So we make 210 Chases a year, 16 Celebrity Chases, 16 Beat The Chasers..."
And back in 2021 he admitted he was thinking of retiring from the quiz show, "in a couple of years"
Blankety Blank
Walsh took over as the host of revived 80s game show Blankety Blank in 2021. The presenter “jumped at the chance” after he hosted a Christmas special of the show in 2020, which saw 6.3 million viewers tuning in. The most recent series of the quiz show, in which contestant try to match 'fill int he blank' answers given by a panel of celebrities, aired on BBC One in the autumn of 2023 on Saturdays at 9pm.
Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad
Walsh teamed up with son Barney, 26, for the comedy travel show which sees them taking a road trip together to various countries around the world. The popular show, which launched in 2019, is reported to have commissioned for a sixth series. Both father and son have admitted what a "heartwarming" thing it has been to be able to share the adventures together.
The Royal Variety Performance
Walsh has so much become the face of national family entertainment that in 2023 he was chosen to host the 91st Royal Variety Performance in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate at the London Palladium. The annual talent show was broadcast on ITV and watched by over 4 million viewers.
Barbara Knox at 90
Walsh starred as Danny Baldwin in ITV soap Coronation Street for 391 episodes between 2004 and 2006. So in 2023 when Corrie made a special documentary to celebrate Barbara Knox 's 90th birthday after 51 years playing Rita Tanner in the ITV soap who did they turn to present it? The face of The Chase Bradley Walsh of course,
Doctor Who
Not just a quiz show host, actor Walsh was a companion in Doctor Who between 2018 and 2022, alongside the thirteenth Time Lord Jodie Whittaker. The Law & Order star was an everyman Essex bus driver Graham O'Brien in the sci fi show, which has always aired in a primetime family viewing slot on Saturday evenings.
The Larkins
Walsh took over Sir David Jason's role as Pop Larkin in the recent ITV remake of The Darling Buds Of May, The Larkins, which has aired for two series in a primetime Sunday evening slot. There is currently not a third series scheduled. But Walsh has hinted this might not be becaue the show has been axed - but becasue he is too busy to make any more.
Read more: Bradley Walsh
Bradley Walsh claims celebrities are scared of The Chase (BANG Showbiz, 1 min read)
Bradley Walsh makes a DIG at rival show on Beat The Chasers (What To Watch, 2 min read)
Bradley Walsh says audience member gave birth on set of Gladiators (Digital Spy, 2 min read)
