Bradley Walsh

Bradley John Walsh (born 4 June 1960)[1][2] is an English actor, comedian, television presenter, singer,[3] and former professional footballer.

Bradley Walsh
Walsh in July 2012
Born	Bradley John Walsh 4 June 1960 Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Occupation	Actor comedian television presenter singer
Years active	1988–present
Employer	ITV
Television	Coronation Street Law & Order: UK The Chase Cash Trapped Doctor Who Blankety Blank Wheel of Fortune
Spouse(s)	Donna Derby ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2

Walsh is known for his roles as Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street (2004–2006), as DS Ronnie Brooks in Law & Order: UK (2009–2014), and as Graham O'Brien in Doctor Who (2018–2021). He has also presented various television game shows for ITV, including Wheel of Fortune (1997), The Chase (2009–present), Odd One In (2010–2011), Keep It in the Family (2014–2015), and Cash Trapped (2016–present).

Walsh hosted the ITV variety show Tonight at the London Palladium (2016–2019) and was a team captain on the sports-themed panel show Play to the Whistle (2015–2017). He appeared as the coach in the 2001 comedy film Mike Bassett: England Manager. Since 2019, Walsh has starred in Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, alongside his son Barney Walsh.

In addition to his television career, Walsh often appears in theatre shows, particularly pantomimes. As a singer, he has released two albums, Chasing Dreams (2016) and When You're Smiling (2017), which both reached the top 15 in the UK Albums Chart.

Early life

Walsh was born in 1960 in Watford, Hertfordshire, to a Scottish mother, Margaret, and her husband Daniel. He grew up near Watford, in Leavesden, with his parents and sister Kerri. Walsh attended what is now Francis Combe Academy, a comprehensive school in Garston, Hertfordshire, which was then known as Francis Combe School.[4][5] Leaving school at 16, Walsh got a job as an apprentice at Rolls-Royce's aircraft engine factory in Watford.[6]

Football career

Walsh started his youth football career at Wormley Rovers. In late 1978, at the age of 18, Walsh became a professional football player for Brentford although he failed to make the first team and was regularly a member of the reserves.[7] While Walsh was at Brentford he also played for Barnet on loan, making five Southern Football League appearances in the 1978–79 season. He also played for Tring Town, Boreham Wood and Chalfont St Peter.[8] Ankle fractures ended his football career at the age of 22, in 1982.[9] He denies reports[10][11] that he played for Dunstable Town.[12]

Walsh often participates in Soccer Aid, a charity football match where England takes on The Rest of the World with teams made up of celebrities and football legends.[13] He helped England win the 2006 events as a player and the 2012 and 2016 events as a coach.

Television career

Following his football career, Walsh had a variety of jobs including working as a bluecoat at Pontins[14] in Morecambe for three months.[15] In October 1982, performing as a newcomer comedian, he came second in a talent contest at the Rolls-Royce Sports and Social Club in his home town of Leavesden.[16]

Walsh was recruited by television channel ITV, who offered him the role as presenter on one of the network's new game shows, Midas Touch. In 1997, Walsh was asked to front the British adaptation of the popular US game show Wheel of Fortune following the decision of long-time presenter Nicky Campbell to leave the show after more than eight years.

Walsh's tenure on Wheel of Fortune lasted just one year, when he decided to turn his hand to acting. He also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[17]

Acting

Walsh's first acting job was a minor role in the Channel 4 series, Lock, Stock.... He also appeared as Dave Dodds in the 2001 Channel 4 TV film Mike Bassett: England Manager.

Walsh returned to ITV in 2002, after landing a regular role in the short lived British soap opera Night and Day. He featured in a total of 52 episodes. In 2003, Walsh played a minor role in an episode of The Bill spin-off M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team. While filming this, he appeared in the musical Les Miserables in London's West End.

On 31 May 2004, Walsh made his first appearance in Coronation Street as factory boss Danny Baldwin. It was originally envisaged that Walsh's character would be called Vic, however, Walsh asked for the character's name to be changed to Danny after his late father.[18]

In December 2006, Walsh was written out of the series at his own request.[19] During his time in Coronation Street, Walsh also appeared as Burglar Bill in the one-off play The Queen's Handbag.

In October 2007, he appeared in TV drama Torn. In 2008, Walsh appeared in two episodes of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, in the second story of series two, The Day of the Clown, as a sinister entity that fed off other people's fear. In his role, he played three parts of the same ego – a sinister American-sounding clown called Odd Bob, a mysterious European-sounding ringmaster called Elijah Spellman, and the infamous Pied Piper of Hamelin.[20][21]

In January 2009, Walsh and his son Barney featured in a special edition of the Channel 5 TV series, Dangerous Adventures for Boys, based on the best-selling book by Conn and Hal Iggulden, The Dangerous Book for Boys. Walsh and his son took part in hill-climbing before learning how to pilot a biplane.

In January 2009, Walsh began appearing in ITV crime drama Law & Order: UK. Walsh plays the character of DS Ronnie Brooks, a recovering alcoholic who has been in the police force for more than twenty years. From 2009 until 2014, Walsh starred in a total of 53 episodes. After the eighth series, Walsh decided to take a break from the programme and ITV decided to rest the show, but it has not been cancelled and is simply on a hiatus. Walsh said he would "like the opportunity to pursue other drama projects which ITV are developing".[22]

On 21 March 2013, Walsh appeared in an episode of The Spa on Sky Living.

In May 2014, Walsh was cast as Brutus in a BBC One comedy series called SunTrap, starring alongside Kayvan Novak and Keith Allen. The show premiered on 27 May 2015.[23][24]

In October 2017, the BBC announced that Walsh had been cast as a companion, Graham O'Brien, in the eleventh series of Doctor Who.[25] He reprised the role for the twelfth series in 2020 and departed the programme in the 2021 New Year's Day special "Revolution of the Daleks".[26]

In December 2020, it was announced that Walsh had been cast as Pop Larkin, a new six-part adaptation of The Darling Buds of May. Production is set to begin in 2021.[27][28]

Presenting

On 9 September 2007, Walsh hosted the countdown 50 Greatest Stars Polls on ITV, in which people had to vote for their favourite polls on celebrities. Later that year, on 29 December 2007, Walsh hosted the countdown for the No. 1 Soap Fan on ITV.

In August 2008, Walsh fronted his own ITV series entitled My Little Soldier, in which young contestants are required to do "grown-up things" such as travelling on their own by train. In November and December 2008, Walsh hosted another game show for ITV, called Spin Star.[29]

In June 2009, Walsh became the presenter of ITV game show The Chase, as well as the celebrity editions of the programme.[30] The Chase has become popular, beating rival BBC quiz show Pointless regularly. The show features contestants who take on the "Chaser" in a series of general knowledge quiz rounds. There have also been a number of series of celebrity versions of the show, also hosted by Walsh.

Walsh hosted a pilot for an American version of The Chase in 2012. However, it was decided that Brooke Burns would host the show instead.[31]

Between 2010 and 2011, Walsh was the presenter of Saturday panel show Odd One In, with regular panellists Peter Andre and Jason Manford.[32]

Since 2012, Walsh has hosted the Crime Thriller Awards on ITV3. He also hosted the Crime Thriller Club on ITV3 in 2013.[33] Walsh also narrated a one-off documentary for ITV called The Circus.

In August 2014, Walsh hosted an ITV series called Come on Down! The Game Show Story, which looks back on the history of British game shows.[34]

On 26 October 2014, after two successful pilots, Walsh began hosting the first series of Keep It in the Family. He returned to host a second series in 2015.[35][36]

In 2014, Walsh presented an episode of Sunday Night at the Palladium. He returned to the show to present another episode in 2015. In 2016, he presented eight episodes of Tonight at the London Palladium, a spin-off from the Sunday night series.[37] A second series began airing in April 2017. On 26 December 2014, Walsh hosted an entertainment special called A Christmas Cracker, filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.[38]

In May 2016, Walsh guest presented an episode of The One Show with Alex Jones. Also in 2016, Walsh began presenting Cash Trapped, a daytime game show for ITV. A second and third series aired in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

In 2017, Walsh guest-hosted five episodes of The Nightly Show on ITV, which aired from 3 to 7 April. On 1 May 2019, it was announced that Walsh would host a new late-night talk show on ITV, titled Bradley Walsh's Late Night Guestlist. The pilot episode, featuring guests Holly Willoughby, Maya Jama and Piers Morgan, aired on 11 May 2019. A full series was not commissioned.

In 2020, Walsh was announced as the host of a one-off festive revival of the game show Blankety Blank for the BBC.[39][40][41]

Other appearances

In 2005, Walsh was one of the victims of an Undercover in Series 5 of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. At the end of that Undercover, he "stormed off".

In 2007, Walsh took part in Northern Rock's All Star Golf Tournament on ITV, in which his team, Team Europe, won. Walsh stated that he has been playing golf since he was twenty years old.

In August 2008, Walsh appeared in talent show Maestro on BBC Two, where he was placed sixth.

Since 2015, Walsh has been a team captain on the sports-based panel show Play to the Whistle. Hosted by Holly Willoughby, the first series lasted for seven episodes, beginning in April 2015. The second series began in April 2016, followed by a third in 2017.

In 2020, Walsh was the "first ever double Undercover victim" in Series 16 of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Singing career

Walsh approached rival game show host Alexander Armstrong to ask him for singing advice in 2016.[42] The result, in November, was Walsh's release of his debut album, Chasing Dreams, which peaked at 10 on the UK Albums Chart. It consists of covers of jazz standards such as "That's Life" and "Mr. Bojangles" as well as the title track, an original song written by Walsh.[3] It became the biggest-selling debut album by a British artist in 2016, selling 111,650 copies.[43]

A year later, due to the success of Chasing Dreams, Walsh released a second album, When You're Smiling, consisting of more covers of traditional pop songs, and one original track. It reached 11 in the charts.

Personal life

Walsh married the dancer Donna Derby in 1997. Together they have a son, Barney, with whom Walsh appeared in the travel series Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad.[44]

Walsh also has a daughter, Hayley (born 1982), from a previous relationship.[45]

Walsh resides in Epping, Essex.[6]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Mike Bassett: England Manager	Dave Dodds
	The Glow	George
2005	Coronation Street: Pantomime	Prince Charming/Danny Baldwin	Coronation Street Spin-Off film
2007	To Each His Own Cinema	Father	(segment "Happy Ending")
2013	Imagine Africa	Himself
2016	Mike Bassett: Interim Manager	Dave Dodds

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995–1996	Midas Touch	Presenter
1997	Wheel of Fortune		50 episodes
2000	Lock, Stock...	Larry Harmless
	The Thing About Vince	Perry
2001	Hotel	Henry
2002–2003	Night and Day	Eddie "Woody" Dexter
2003	Reps	Terry Arnold
	M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team	Phil Seagrove
2004	The Basil Brush Show	Mr. Savage
	Murder City	Ken Hill
2004–2006	Coronation Street	Danny Baldwin	Regular role; 391 episodes
2005, 2020	Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway	Himself	Undercover victim; 2 episodes
2007	Torn	Steven Taylor
	The Old Curiosity Shop	Mr. Liggers
2007–2008	The National Lottery Draws	Presenter	Occasional episodes
2008	The Sarah Jane Adventures	Odd Bob Elijah Spellman The Pied Piper	2 episodes; The Day of the Clown
	Spin Star	Presenter	One series
2009–2014	Law & Order: UK	DS Ronnie Brooks	Eight series
2009–present	The Chase	Presenter	Fourteen series (Regular) eleven series (Celebrity) two series (Family) two series (Beat the Chasers)
2010–2011	Odd One In		Two series
2012	The Revolting World of Stanley Brown	Headmaster	1 episode
2012–2014	The Crime Thriller Awards	Presenter	Annually
2013	Crime Thriller Club		One-off special
2014	Come On Down! The Game Show Story		One series
	A Christmas Cracker		One-off special
2014–2015	Sunday Night at the Palladium		2 episodes
	Keep It in the Family		Two series
2015	SunTrap	Brutus	One series
2015–2017[46]	Play to the Whistle	Team captain	Three series
2016–2017	Tonight at the London Palladium	Presenter	Two series
2016–present	Cash Trapped		Three series
2016	Drunk History	Arthur Conan Doyle	1 episode
	The One Show	Guest presenter	1 episode
2017	The Nightly Show		5 episodes
2018	The London Palladium: The Greatest Stage on Earth	Presenter	One-off special
2018–2021	Doctor Who[47]	Graham O'Brien[48]	Main role; 22 Episodes (Series 11–12)
2018	When Dummies Took Over The World	Presenter	One-off special
2019–present	Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad	Himself	Three series
2019	Bradley Walsh's Late Night Guestlist	Presenter	1 episode
2019–present	Take Off with Bradley and Holly		1 episode; one upcoming series
2020–present	Beat the Chasers		Two series
2020	Blankety Blank
	Bradley Walsh’s How To Win A Gameshow[49]		One-off special
2022	The Larkins[50]	Pop Larkin	Main role; spin off to The Darling Buds of May

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Location
1988	Aladdin	Wishee Washee	Theatre Royal, Norwich
1991–1992			Liverpool Empire Theatre
1994–1996	Peter Pan	Smee	The Alban Arena, St Albans
1996–1997	Cash on Delivery		Whitehall Theatre
1997–1998	Cinderella	Buttons	Theatre Royal, Nottingham
1998			Wimbledon Theatre
1999	Run For Your Wife		Churchill Theatre
2000–2001	Dick Whittington	Dick	Orchard Theatre, Dartford
2001–2002	Snow White	Muddles	White Rock Theatre, Hastings
2002–2003	Cinderella	Buttons	The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
2003	Tom, Dick and Harry		Theatre Royal, Windsor
2003–2004	Jack & the Beanstalk		The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
2006–2007	Cinderella	Buttons	Milton Keynes Theatre
2007–2008	Aladdin	Wishee Washee
2008–2009			New Victoria Theatre, Woking
2010–2011	Peter Pan	Smee	Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
2013–2014	Cinderella	Buttons	Orchard Theatre, Dartford
2014–2015	Peter Pan[51]	Smee	Milton Keynes Theatre
2015	Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure	Captain Hook	Adelphi Theatre, London (one-off concert)
	Cinderella – The World's Biggest Panto[52]	Buttons	Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
2017	Peter Pan – The World's Biggest Panto[53]	Smee	Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
			SSE Arena, Wembley

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Certifications
		UK
Chasing Dreams	Released: 25 November 2016 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download	10	BPI: Gold
When You're Smiling	Released: 10 November 2017 Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download	11

Awards

Year	Award		Work	Result	Notes
2005	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street	Nominated
2006				Nominated
	British Soap Awards	Best Dramatic Performance		Won
		Best Actor		Nominated
		Best Storyline		Nominated	Shared with Jane Danson and Johnny Briggs
2014	National Television Awards	Radio Times – TV Detective	Ronnie Brooks in Law & Order: UK	Nominated
2015		Most Popular Entertainment Presenter	N/A	Nominated
2018		Most Popular TV Presenter	N/A	Nominated
2019			N/A	Nominated

References

1. "Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837–2006 | findmypast.co.uk". www.findmypast.co.uk.
2. "Bradley John Walsh". Company Check. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
3. Anisiobi, John James (21 October 2016). "The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh announces debut album Chasing Dreams with exclusive clip on Good Morning Britain". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
4. "School reunion marks end of an era". Watford Observer. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
5. "Students". Franciscombe.herts.sch.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
6. Baker, Marc (15 September 2018). "Doctor Who star Bradley Walsh reveals Ray Winstone persuaded him to act again". mirror.
7. "Brentford | EX BEES ROVER RETURNS". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. 16 August 2006. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
8. Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Chesterfield 30/09/95. 1995. p. 13.
9. "Bradley Walsh: "I was up there with Cumberbatch and Tennant"". Radio Times. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
10. Association, The Football (24 February 2017). "Wood aim to upset Imps". www.thefa.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
11. Duff, Seamus (23 August 2017). "From footballer to Doctor Who: The surprising achievements of Bradley Walsh". Mirror. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
12. "Friday 8 Mar 5pm". The Chase. Season 12. Episode 153. 8 March 2019. 1–2 minutes in. ITV. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
13. "Soccer Aid Teams". Unicef UK. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
14. "The 5-Minute Interview: Bradley Walsh, Comedian and actor". The Independent. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
15. "Bradley Walsh: 'Credit card? Never had one, never will'". The Daily Telegraph. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
16. "Immaculate display – Leavesden Talent Contest". The Stage. 28 October 1982. p. 5. Retrieved 24 September 2019. – via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (subscription required)
17. Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 11 March 2001. ITV.
18. Bernard, Bale (19 January 2019). "When Mum and Dad got me a battery-operated Dalek, I never dreamed I'd be on Doctor Who!': Bradley Walsh on his 'odd-job man' acting career". Sunday Post. DC Thomson & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
19. "Bradley Walsh: 'I can't rule out Coronation Street return'". Digital Spy. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
20. "BBC – The Sarah Jane Adventures, Series 2, The Day of the Clown – Part 1". BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
21. "BBC – The Sarah Jane Adventures, Series 2, The Day of the Clown – Part 2". BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
22. "ITV to rest Law & Order: UK as Bradley Walsh quits". Digital Spy. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
23. "Woody – brand new BBC One comedy starring Bradley Walsh and Kayvan Novak goes into production – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
24. "Bradley Walsh – The Sun Trap". bradleywalsh.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
25. "Doctor Who: Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill and Sharon D Clarke join Jodie Whittaker as regular cast members". Radio Times. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
26. ""Revolution of the Daleks" Preview Confirms Major Cast Exits, A Series 11 Character Return & More". Doctor Who TV. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
27. "Bradley Walsh to star in new adaptation of The Darling Buds of May for ITV". Radio Times. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
28. "The Darling Buds Of May returning to ITV as The Larkins". Evening Standard. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
29. "Ex-Corrie star lands ITV quiz role – TV News". Digital Spy. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
30. "Ann Widdecombe, Alex James, Eamonn Holmes for ITV1's 'Celebrity Chase'". Digital Spy. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
31. "Bradley Walsh to film 'The Chase' US pilot". Digital Spy. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
32. "Bradley Walsh to host 'Odd One In'". Digital Spy. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
33. "Bradley Walsh on ITV3's new Crime Thriller Club series". ITV. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
34. "Come On Down! The Game Show Story". ITV. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
35. Richards, Chris (6 January 2014). "Simon Cowell new TV show: Keep It In The Family 'is inspired by the Generation Game'". Mirror. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
36. "Keep It In The Family". ITV. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
37. "Bradley Walsh to host Tonight At The London Palladium". Press Centre.
38. "A Christmas Cracker". ITV. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
39. TVZone (28 October 2020). "BLANKETY BLANK WITH BRADLEY WALSH TO RECORD". TVZoneUK. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
40. Guide, British Comedy (30 October 2020). "Blankety Blank to return at Christmas with Bradley Walsh". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
41. "Home". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
42. Lorraine (25 November 2016), Bradley Walsh Asked Pointless Host Alexander Armstrong for Singing Advice | Lorraine, retrieved 26 April 2019
43. Read-Dominguez, Jennifer (4 January 2017). "You'll never guess which unlikely TV star had 2016's best-selling debut album". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
44. "Bradley Walsh wife and family: Everything you need to know".
45. "Bradley Walsh facts: Who is the Chase star's wife and son, how old is he and what is his height?".
46. User, Super. "Play to the Whistle Will Not Get Series 4". premieredate.news.
47. Office, BBC Press. "Meet the Doctor's new team. Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill join Jodie Whittaker for #DoctorWho". Retrieved 22 October 2017.
48. Grady, Constance (19 July 2018). "Watch: the first footage of Doctor Who's first woman Doctor is here". Vox. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
49. "Bradley Walsh's How To Win A Gameshow". itv.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
50. "Doctor Who's Bradley Walsh cast in ITV's new take on The Darling Buds of May". Digital Spy. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
51. "Peter Pan – Milton Keynes Theatre – ATG Tickets". atgtickets.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
52. "Cinderella Panto – Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham". Barclaycard Arena Birmingham.
53. "Worlds Biggest Panto | Barclaycard Arena Birmingham | Peter Pan". Barclaycard Arena Birmingham. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Bradley Walsh at IMDb
• Bradley Walsh at British Comedy Guide
• Bradley Walsh Management – Debi Allen