Bradley Walsh has been a regular face on screens since the late 1980s when he hosted You Must Be Joking. Since then, he’s been in Coronation Street, The Larkins and Doctor Who.
Although he’s best known for his hosting skills on the beloved ITV quiz show The Chase, having been part of it since it began in 2009, more recently, he joined forces with his son Barney to present BBC’s revival of Gladiators.
However, this isn’t the first time the father and son duo have worked together. Their ITV show Breaking Dad first aired in 2019 and has continued to be a hit with viewers.
Speaking about the long-running programme with BBC’s Tommy Tiernan on his show, Bradley shared: “It’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever done because spending time with my lad.
“From the age of 18, he’s now 26 by the way, that’s how long the show’s been running; it was just extraordinary.”
Reflecting on one of the first times he worked alongside his son, Bradley added: “In 2006, I was in a pantomime in Milton Keynes and my son, I needed a sidekick in the show. My son, the age of seven or eight, played my sidekick, I was Buttons, he was Zip or something.”
Bradley explained that Barney was using some of his own material in the show, which he had practised with his friends beforehand, so he knew the children in the audience would understand the jokes.
He added: “Running down for the curtain call every night with my son and taking a bow was the greatest thing I’d ever done, and it still is today.
“Until, of course, you then go on the road with him, and he’s throwing you off a bridge or something like that.” Bradley confessed that as a parent trying to forge a career, it meant not a lot of time was spent with his child.
He added: “That’s payback time, I’ve really, really loved it. I’ve got a daughter who is 41 as well, but that’s a different ballgame. She’s not in the industry. But Barney, I always say this about him, he’s the man I’ve always wanted to be.”
Recently, ITV confirmed Breaking Dad had been confirmed for a sixth series, although this time they’d be experiencing the cultures of Asia together. The six-part series will see the father-son duo take in the sights and flavours of Japan and Thailand.
Speaking about their latest venture, Barney said: “I’m excited to get stuck into this new adventure with my dad, and get him to experience the local cultures in Japan and Thailand. It’s going to be an exciting and adrenaline-fuelled road trip with lots of fun and laughter.”
Bradley added: “It’s so good to be back on the road again with Barney. We really do have the best time but I’m not quite sure what he has up his sleeve on this trip, which is slightly worrying…”
Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad is available to watch on ITVX.