Barney Walsh, co-host of Gladiators, is back on our screens alongside his famous father Bradley.
Born in 1997, Barney is the only child of comedian and television presenter Bradley and his choreographer wife Donna.
Walsh studied at the East 15 Acting School and later the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before launching his acting career. The 27-year-old has gained recognition for his roles in various TV shows and films, including Casualty, Death in Paradise, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
The Mirror reports Barney shares a close bond with his father, having acted together in Law and Order as well as co-presenting Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking dad and Gladiators.
Despite his success, there have been accusations of nepotism surrounding the young actor and presenter. This is what we know about the life of the actor, his girlfriend and bond with his dad.
What shows and films has Barney Walsh appeared in?
Barney’s acting credits include playing a young Arthur in the Guy Ritchie film King Arthur: Legend of The Sword, starring in The Larkins alongside his father and guest-starring in BBC’s Death of Paradise.
He has also featured in Doctors and Law and Order. In spring 2023, Barney joined Casualty as an accident-prone nurse, Cameron Mickelthwaite.
Initially, the student nurse struggled to adapt to the fast-paced emergency department, but has since settled into the hospital environment.
In addition to acting, Barney has participated in All Star Musicals, CelebAbility and Celebrity Catchphrase.
Barney Walsh’s relationship with his father
Barney Walsh’s bond with his dad Bradley is a strong one, with the elder Walsh eager to see his son shine in the entertainment industry. They’ve teamed up for “Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad” on ITV, which is set to release its sixth series in 2025.
The pair have also been at the helm of the Gladiators reboot since it made a comeback in 2024.
Bradley has often expressed his admiration for Barney, sharing his feelings on the Tommy Tiernan Show. Reflecting on their collaboration, Bradley remarked: “For dads and mums that try and forge a career for themselves, you don’t spend enough time on your kids I guess.
“That’s payback time but I’ve really really loved it”. He continued by praising his son: “Barney, I always say this about him. He’s the man, he’s the person, I always wanted to be.”
However, Barney has faced criticism over potential nepotism after landing a co-hosting gig with his father on Gladiators. Some viewers have questioned if his opportunity was more due to Bradley’s clout than Barney’s own talents, with a few even calling his presenting “wooden”.
An iPaper critic commented: “There is nothing terribly wrong with Barney Walsh as a presenter. I can already hear some of you yelling at me for typing that. But he’s fine.
“He can read an autocue and hit his mark and seems comfortable in front of a camera. Given another few months in the job, he’ll only improve and grow in confidence. But is it likely any of these presenting gigs would have found their way onto his CV without Dad? Probably not.”
Who is Barney Walsh in a relationship with?
Barney Walsh is in a relationship with Stephanie Del Valle Diaz, a Puerto Rican musician and model who was crowned Miss World in 2016.
Barney is thought to have met the 26-year-old Puerto Rican beauty, who won the Miss World competition in 2016, while hosting the 2017 Miss World pageant edition.
Prior to becoming Miss World, Stephanie Del Valle Diaz also claimed the title of Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico in 2016. During her participation in the Miss World competition, she was posed with a question about what she’d like to change in the world, just before being honoured with the title.
She replied: “If I have the opportunity to change something about the world, I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance, to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance of helping those in need. Thank you.”
But it’s not just about beauty as Stephanie studied Law and Communication at Pace University in New York City and can speak three different languages – English, Spanish and French.
In spite of the couple’s preference for keeping personal matters away from the spotlight, Barney and Stephanie did make a public appearance at the BAFTA TV Awards in 2019, alongside famous father-and-son duo Bradley and Donna Derby.
As of late, there haven’t been many sightings of the couple in public, and with both maintaining a discreet presence online, their relationship continues under wraps.
Where does Barney live?
Barney Walsh lives with his father Bradley and mum Donna Derby in a plush £2.5 million barn converted into a dreamy home in Epping, Essex.
The home is complete with five bedrooms, a sauna, a gym, and an inviting outdoor swimming pool.
Although Bradley and Barney are quite private on social media, we’ve had the chance to see inside their stunning home during various TV appearances, and sometimes we can get a glimpse inside the gorgeous mansion.
In one ITV interview, the pair gave us a tour of their ‘man cave’ shed, complete with memorabilia like a poster from Tonight at the London Palladium, which Bradley hosted, and a drum kit for those impromptu jam sessions.