Bradley Walsh is best known for hosting popular game shows like The Chase, Blankety Blank, The Wheel of Fortune, and the recent reboot of 90s hit Gladiators alongside his son Barney.
Despite all of his success, The Chase star didn't always dream of a career in television as he started out as a professional footballer.
In 1979, at just 18 years old, the now-iconic TV personality played professionally for Brentford. Although he never made it to the first team, he was a regular on the reserves.
His career path took a sharp turn when he landed his first hosting role on The Wheel of Fortune. From there, he ventured into acting, appearing in Coronation Street, Law and Order, and BBC One's sci-fi drama Doctor Who.
While we know plenty about The TV personality in a professional capacity, his private life is less often in the spotlight.
Famous family members
Off-screen, Bradley enjoys time at his stunning £2.5 million Essex home with his wife, Donna Derby, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Donna and Bradley have been happily married for over twenty years. What many fans will probably not know is that Donna was a star in her own right before becoming Mrs. Walsh.
She worked in the music industry as a former dancer and famously appeared in Robert Palmer's iconic 80s pop video for Simply Irresistible.
The couple share a son, 27-year-old Barney, who has chosen to follow in his famous parents' footsteps and pursue a career in showbiz.
Barney, known for his appearances on Casualty and co-hosting Gladiators with his dad, has made a name for himself in the world of television.
Heartache
Before finding love with his current wife, Donna, Bradley experienced romance with Bernie Nolan of The Nolans.
The famous pair were set up by Bernie's sister Coleen and her then-husband, Shane Richie, in 1999. The couple enjoyed a three-year relationship before parting ways.
Tragically, Bernie lost her fight against breast cancer in 2013. Reflecting on her past, she once shared with The Mirror: "Shane Richie and Coleen introduced me to Bradley in 1989.
"They took me to see him in a show. Afterward, we chatted for the first time. It was a bit embarrassing because I already knew he fancied me, but it was awkward in a nice way."
Never seen daughter
While many fans are familiar with Bradley's son Barney, fewer know about his daughter Hayley from his previous relationship with Debby Parker.
Choosing a path away from the limelight, Hayley became a reflexologist, focusing on therapeutic foot massage.
Born in 1982, Hayley is the elder half-sibling to Barney, who arrived 15 years later. Despite their age difference, the siblings share a warm and loving relationship.
Bradley becomes a grandfather
Preferring the quiet life, Hayley resides with her husband Tom and their son Dax in Hertfordshire, far from the glitz of the celebrity lifestyle.
In November 2021, Hayley gave birth to a baby boy, making her dad, Bradley Walsh, a grandad for the first time. Over the moon with the new addition to the family, he gushed to Saga magazine: "I am a grandfather! My daughter and her husband, Tom, have a baby boy who is coming up to five months old."
Health woes
Bradley Walsh has been battling blepharitis, an eye condition that can cause itchy and swollen eyelids. During an appearance on This Morning, he opened up about the harsh comments he'd faced regarding his looks, saying, "People don't realise I have seriously bad blepharitis," and revealed, "I have to take one pill a day for it, or I really struggle."
The beloved TV host also said he might need surgery if the condition worsens. He explained: "I am going to need my eyes operated on at some point to sort it out. So many times, people have commented on how I look. But they don't realise. If I take medication, though, I'm fine."
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