The second series of iconic BBC show Gladiators is well underway, with dad-and-sonBradley, 64, and Barney Walsh returning as hosts. The cult classic gameshow sees the superhuman Gladiators competing against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of speed and strength with brand-new games alongside classic challenges.
While most know him today for also hosting ITV’s The Chase, Bradley’s also made his mark as an actor with roles in hit series such as Coronation Street and Doctor Who. As for Barney, the 27-year-old has appeared in the BBC drama Casualty as Cameron Mickelthwaite since 2023.
Bradley and Barney are often quite private on their social media accounts, but through the years fans have been given a brief glimpse inside their luxurious £2.5 million barn conversion that they share with wife and mum Donna Derby. Their stunning home boasts five bedrooms, its own sauna, a gym, and even an outdoor swimming pool, OK! previously reported.
Nestled in Essex, we’ve had the chance to see inside their stunning home during various TV appearances through the years. In one ITV interview, the pair previously gave us a tour of their ‘man cave’ shed.
The ‘man cave’ came complete with memorabilia like a poster from Tonight at the London Palladium, which Bradley hosted. There is also a drum kit for those impromptu jam sessions.
Bradley and Barney in their ‘man cave’ shed(Image: ITV/This Morning/Screengrab)
During another interview, viewers caught sight of the house’s charming interior, featuring plenty of exposed wooden beams that add a rustic yet stylish touch. During a segment of Bradley celebrating turning 60 on This Morning, he broadcast live from his home office, where we saw his white walls and the classic wooden doors leading to other parts of his residence.
A pine bookcase filled with framed photos and ornaments added a personal touch to the space. The pair are clearly close, hosting Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad and the Gladiators BBC reboot together, which went down a hit with viewers who were fans of the original series.
Inside Gladiator hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh’s home(Image: ITV/This Morning/Screengrab)
Ahead of the first series airing in 2024, Bradley said viewers could expect “drama, laughter, excitement, spectacle” from the revived programme which is “pretty much true to the original with some changes and brought into the modern era”. He said: “It’s a fantastic spectacle, I was so excited to work on the show.
“It’s very easy to say it’s fantastic but it really is. Production have done their best to stick to the original and have run with the ball as hard and as fast as they can, and they’ve done a fantastic job.”
Father and son Bradley and Barney Walsh at home in 2020(Image: bradderswalsh/Instagram)
On Bradley’s Instagram, the pair also showed off their sofa and brightly colour statement cushions, encouraging followers to join them on the Big Walk for homeless charity Shelter back in 2020. Offsetting their rustic home, the multicoloured circular cushions bring an extra bit of character to the home.
It’s clear that Bradley’s current lifestyle is worlds apart from his early days in a council house in Watford. He once reflected on his roots in an interview with The Telegraph, saying: “I was born in Watford, and grew up in a council house.”
Bradley opened up about his humble beginnings, sharing: “My mother was a single parent who had to struggle hard to make ends meet. At one point, she was holding down three different jobs. It was a happy childhood, but we certainly didn’t have a great deal of money.”
Now, the charming TV personality holds the title of one of television’s richest presenters with a cool net worth of £6.45million, out-earning even popular stars Ant and Dec as well as Dermot O’Leary. With 23 years of marriage under his belt, Bradley and his wife, former professional dancer and choreographer Donna, are a regular sight dazzling on the red carpet together.
In his personal life, Bradley is the dad to 38-year-old Hayley Walsh, his daughter from a previous relationship. Before lighting up television screens, he enjoyed a stint as a pro footballer and got his break in television, presenting the National Lottery in 1994 on BBC One.
He then continued to enchant audiences, taking over hosting duties for game shows, including Wheel Of Fortune in 1997. BBC Gladiators is back on our screens on today, Saturday, March 15 on BBC One at 7pm.
