Who is The Chase host and former Royal Variety Performance presenter Bradley Walsh?

ENGLISH television presenter Bradley Walsh has been dumped as the host of the Royal Variety Performance.

However, the comedian, actor, singer and former professional footballer still has a heck of a career behind him. Here’s what we know about him:

Who is Bradley Walsh?

Bradley Walsh was born in Watford, Hertfordshire on June 4, 1960.

He is best known for  being a TV presenter, but the man of many talents has turned his hand to comedy, acting and singing — as well as being a former professional footballer.

As a teenager Bradley enjoyed a career on the football pitch, playing for Brentford's reserve team.

He also had stints on loan at Dunstable Town, Barnet, Tring Town, Boreham Wood and Chalfont St Peter.

However, his footballing career was cut short after a few years, with ankle injuries forcing him out of the sport aged just 22.

But as one door closed, another opened — Bradley walked straight into the world of showbiz.

In addition to his television career, he often appears in theatre shows, particularly pantomimes.

And if his CV wasn't impressive enough, Bradley also has a background in singing.

The TV star has released two albums — the first was Chasing Dreams, which peaked at number 10 on the UK Album Chart, and the second was titled When You're Smiling, which hit the charts at number 11.

According to most outlets, Bradley's estimated net worth as of 2024 is around £20million.

He is also understood to have in the region of £12.5million's worth of assets.

His earnings surpass Ant and Dec and Dermot O'Leary, making him one of Britain's highest-paid hosts.

In 2023, numerous publications named him the "richest UK solo TV host".

What TV shows has Bradley Walsh hosted?

The 64-year-old is a regular face on UK television, acting in and presenting some of the nation's favourite programmes.

He’s had some one-off successes in shows like The Thing About Vince and The Revolting World of Stanley Brown.

And on occasion, we’ve even seen him hosting The National Lottery and The One Show.

However, he appeared in numerous TV shows:

Wheel of Fortune

Bradley was snapped up by ITV, which gave him a job presenting a new game show - prophetically called Midas Touch.

This positioned him well when he took over Wheel of Fortune in 1997, after long-time presenter Nicky Campbell had left.

During Bradley’s tenure, there were a few additional prizes added.

The first player in the third round to land on a special disc and successfully place a letter on the board won the prize inside Brad's Box.

This bonus feature was carried over to the prime-time John Leslie series, where it was renamed Leslie's Luxury.

And while he only stayed from January 1997 to December of the same year, he still managed to host 50 episodes.

The Basil Brush Show

Bradley played Mr Savage, a referee, in The Basil Brush Show from 2002 to 2007.

This live-action comedy features the funniest fox on television sharing a townhouse flat with his human roommates.

In one episode, the comedian is hit by a football whilst he was blowing his whistle, which ended up being swallowed.

Coronation Street

On May 31, 2004, he made his debut on Coronation Street as Danny Baldwin, the factory boss and nephew of the long-standing character Mike Baldwin.

The character was originally supposed to be called Vic, but Walsh asked for the name to be changed to Danny in honour of his late father.

By December 2006, Walsh decided to leave the show and was written out at his own request.

In June 2023, he was spotted having lunch with soap legend Barbara Knox, prompting rumours of his return.

However, there’s been no word yet if that’s going to happen.

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

While Bradley may not have been one of the hosts of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, he still ended up on the sharp end of the stick.

In 2005, the tables were turned on Walsh as he became one of the victims of an Undercover in series 5 of the show.

By 2020, Bradley was the "first ever double Undercover victim" in series 16.

The Sarah Jane Adventures

While Bradley’s appearances were short-lived on The Sarah Jane Adventures, he still managed to play multiple roles in only two episodes.

He starred as Odd Bob, Elijah Spellman, and The Pied Piper in the science fiction TV series.

The programme is a spin-off of the long-running BBC science fiction programme Doctor Who and is aimed at a younger audience than Doctor Who.

Law & Order: UK

Switching things up, Bradley stepped into a completely different role as DS Ronnie Brooks in the British version of Law & Order.

He portrayed a Detective Sergeant in London’s Major Incident Unit.

As a recovering alcoholic and an absent father, Ronnie was deeply committed to his work, valuing it above all else.

Known for his light-hearted demeanour, the character served as a mentor and leader to his junior partner.

He even chose to turn down multiple promotions to stay on the front lines and make a real difference in the community.

For eight seasons, Bradley starred with the likes of Jamie Bamber and Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels, Freema Agyeman and Bill Paterson.

He was also one of the executive producers of the show.

However, in June 2014, ITV confirmed that Bradley had declined a contract option to return for a ninth series.

The series was also retired indefinitely.

The Chase

One of Bradley’s longest-running gigs has been hosting The Chase.

He took on the role in June 2009, presenting both the regular ITV game show and its celebrity editions.

The show quickly became a hit, often outpacing rival BBC quiz show Pointless.

The format features contestants going head-to-head with the Chaser in general knowledge rounds, with plenty of tension and fun along the way.

Bradley also hosted a pilot for an American version of The Chase in 2012.

While he didn’t end up hosting the series—Brooke Burns got the job—his involvement showed just how far the show's appeal could stretch.

Consequently, he’s also involved in the spin-off, Beat the Chasers.

Doctor Who

Bradley played Graham O'Brien in Doctor Who from 2018 to 2022.

A retired bus driver from Essex who is in remission from cancer, the character is seen as an everyman.

In the show's eleventh series, starting with the first episode, he served as a companion of the thirteenth incarnation of the alien time traveller, known as the Doctor played by Jodie Whittaker.

He was last seen in the 2021 New Year's Special Revolution of the Daleks.

Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad

In Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, Bradley gets swept up in an epic road trip adventure, led by his son Barney.

Together, they travel across different countries, sharing laughs and challenges along the way.

So far, four series and a Christmas special have aired, all narrated by Alexander Armstrong.

The title is a cheeky nod to the American crime drama Breaking Bad.

Fans were thrilled when ITV announced that the show had been renewed for a sixth series, set to air in 2025.

Blankety Blank

In December 2020, it was announced that Bradley would be hosting a Christmas special of Blankety Blank on BBC One, which aired in a prime-time slot on Christmas Day.

The episode was a hit, drawing 5.26 million viewers and becoming the third most-watched program of the day in the overnight ratings.

Thanks to its success, the BBC revealed in April 2021 that the show had been picked up for a full series, set to air on Saturday nights later that year.

Following that, a second series of 10 episodes, including another Christmas special, was commissioned for 2022, with Bradley continuing as the host.

Since then, three full seasons have aired, and the show remains a fan favourite.

The Larkins

The 2021 English comedy-drama series featured Bradley as "Pop" Larkin and Joanna Scanlan as "Ma" Larkin, parents to six lively children.

After two seasons and 13 episodes, there were rumours that the show had been cancelled due to low ratings.
However, in a TV interview, Bradley hinted that while there wouldn’t be a new series in 2023—partly because of his own busy schedule—there was talk of creating a feature-length special instead.

Gladiators

The cult classic TV show Gladiators was revived in January 2024, with Bradley and his son Barney hosting the series.

Each episode features four contenders competing in physical challenges against elite athletes called Gladiators, culminating in the Eliminator.

The competition progresses through heats, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a grand final to crown champions.

The revived series became a major success, drawing over six million viewers for its premiere and nearly nine million overall.

Who is Bradley Walsh's wife Donna Derby?

Donna Derby has been married to Bradley since 1997.

She is a choreographer and former dancer, having choreographed routines on Miss World.

Donna rose to fame after dancing in Robert Palmer's 1980s hit record Simply Irresistible.

In the late 1980s she also enjoyed a brief stint as an actress and appeared in six episodes of in The Kenny Everett Television Show.

Most recently, Donna returned to her beauty pageant routes — this time as an esteemed judge.

The couple shares one son together — Barney, 26, who has followed in his father's footsteps and presents television programmes besides him.

Bradley also has an older daughter, Hayley, from a previous relationship.

She was born in 1982 and lives in Hertfordshire.