The Chase's Bradley Walsh admits 'they sadly let me go' from job for heartbreaking reason
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Bradley Walsh said 'they sadly let me go' as he opened up about a major setback earlier in his career.
The 65-year-old is known to many now as the popular host of ITV quiz show The Chase. Before that he appeared on a host of TV shows, including a two-year spell as Danny Baldwin on Coronation Street.
But Bradley's career could have taken a very different turn early on. Aged just 18, in 1979, he signed a professional contract with football team Brentford.
His time as a professional footballer saw him going on loan at Barnet as well as having spells with Tring Town, Boreham Wood and Chalfont St Peter. Although, at 22, he was forced to give up his playing career after suffering an ankle fracture.
On the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? podcast in 2024, Bradley opened up about the moment he signed for Brentford as well as being let go by the club. He explained: 'I was playing locally for my mum's hospital team, she worked in a hospital, and I was playing in a match, I'd played for the county and things like that, and I'd been a Watford junior, and then, unbeknownst to me, I'd been watched for about a month.
(Image: BBC)
'I'd had a good month and it was the groundsman who was the chief scout at Brentford and he came and watched me and he gave me the opportunity to play on a Monday evening against Southend United and I scored the winning goal.
'That was it, and I signed on for two years. I played about 50 games and I scored two goals.'
Bradley says he '100 percent' would have had a 'full football career' if he could. He believed he was 'on the brink' of making it through to the first team before he started suffering with injuries.
He added: 'Sadly, I suffered a quite bad injury, I was always recovering from an injury, and that's one of the reasons they let me go in the end. I was just too injury prone.'
(Image: sean wilton)
After his football career came to an end, Bradley became a bluecoat at Pontins before working as a stand-up comic. It was then he was recruited by what was Anglia Television.
His first venture into presenting game shows was with Wheel of Fortune in 1997. In 2020, Bradley fronted a Christmas edition of Blankety Blank.
The programme was a hit, watched by 5.26 million people, prompting the BBC to commission a full series. The show sees a panel of six celebrities attempting to help a contestant fill in the blanks and win prizes.
This week's famous faces are Sue Perkins, Iain Stirling, Dermot O'Leary, Naga Munchetty, Ellie Simmonds and Layton Williams. Blankety Blank will air tonight (June 21) at 8pm on BBC One.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlins magic show deal in latest career blow after Dancing on Ice & game show canned
This comes after the TV star collapsed in a restaurant late last year HI-DE-BYE Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlins magic show deal in latest career blow after Dancing on Ice & game show canned Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TV's Stephen Mulhern has been dropped from his £1million deal with holiday camp giant Butlin's. The Saturday Night Takeway star will not return to his sell-out shows after this summer. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Stephen Mulhern has been dropped from his £1million deal with Butlin's Credit: Butlins 3 Stephen started out in children's TV in 2001 Credit: Butlins ITV host Stephen, 48, has appeared for the past three years at the chain's centres at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness. But his lucrative deal for the weekend performances will not be renewed at the end of this year. A source said: 'Stephen has been a massive hit with holidaymakers. 'He began his career as a Redcoat and has kept families brilliantly entertained.' The end of the deal comes after Mulhern collapsed in a Pizza Express in Sunningdale, Berkshire, late last year. He was also left devastated by the death of his father Christopher, who taught him magician tricks as a child. In March, ITV announced that Dancing On Ice - which he hosted with close pal Holly Willoughby - would not return next year. And his game show In For A Penny, which saw Stephen head to different places around the UK to challenge members of the public, was shelved by ITV after six series. But he is due to start to start filming for his challenge show You Bet! on Tour next week — without Holly, after she quit the show in March. Stephen, a close pal of Ant and Dec, started out in children's TV in 2001 when he was the presenter of the game show Finger Tips. Watch the moment Stephen Mulhern is left red-faced as he makes HUGE blunder on Catchphrase puzzle He presented his first show with Holly in 2004 when they worked together on Children's TV show Ministry Of Mayhem. The magician launched Tricky TV on CITV in 2005, which he presented until 2010. During this time, he was handpicked by bosses to front the ITV2 spin-off for Britain's Got Talent. He presented Britain's Got More Talent until the cancellation of the spin-off in 2019. A Butlin's spokesperson said: 'Stephen has been an incredible part of the Butlin's experience and continues to be a valued member of the family. 'Stephen's much-loved live show won't return in 2026 after three fantastic years, but we're thrilled to be working together on ongoing projects this autumn.' A spokesman for Stephen said: 'Stephen has absolutely loved being part of the Butlin's family — performing his stage shows in front of thousands of holiday makers across the country and the relationship with Butlin's remains hugely positive. 'This change allows Stephen to explore new opportunities in the family holiday space – something he's incredibly passionate about.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlins magic show deal in latest career blow after Dancing on Ice & game show canned
TV's Stephen Mulhern has been dropped from his £1million deal with holiday camp giant Butlin's. The Saturday Night Takeway star will not return to his sell-out shows after this summer. 3 ITV host Stephen, 48, has appeared for the past three years at the chain's centres at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness. But his lucrative deal for the weekend performances will not be renewed at the end of this year. A source said: 'Stephen has been a massive hit with holidaymakers. 'He began his career as a Redcoat and has kept families brilliantly entertained.' The end of the deal comes after Mulhern collapsed in a Pizza Express in Sunningdale, Berkshire, late last year. He was also left devastated by the death of his father Christopher, who taught him magician tricks as a child. In March, ITV announced that Dancing On Ice - which he hosted with close pal Holly Willoughby - would not return next year. And his game show In For A Penny, which saw Stephen head to different places around the UK to challenge members of the public, was shelved by ITV after six series. But he is due to start to start filming for his challenge show You Bet! on Tour next week — without Holly, after she quit the show in March. Stephen, a close pal of Ant and Dec, started out in children's TV in 2001 when he was the presenter of the game show Finger Tips. Watch the moment Stephen Mulhern is left red-faced as he makes HUGE blunder on Catchphrase puzzle He presented his first show with Holly in 2004 when they worked together on Children's TV show Ministry Of Mayhem. The magician launched Tricky TV on CITV in 2005, which he presented until 2010. During this time, he was handpicked by bosses to front the ITV2 spin-off for Britain's Got Talent. He presented Britain's Got More Talent until the cancellation of the spin-off in 2019. A Butlin's spokesperson said: 'Stephen has been an incredible part of the Butlin's experience and continues to be a valued member of the family. 'Stephen's much-loved live show won't return in 2026 after three fantastic years, but we're thrilled to be working together on ongoing projects this autumn.' A spokesman for Stephen said: 'Stephen has absolutely loved being part of the Butlin's family — performing his stage shows in front of thousands of holiday makers across the country and the relationship with Butlin's remains hugely positive. 'This change allows Stephen to explore new opportunities in the family holiday space – something he's incredibly passionate about.' 3
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Dump Kneecap from Glastonbury line-up demands Starmer after member of group charged with terror offence
THE Prime Minister has called for Glastonbury to axe Kneecap from its line-up after a band member was charged with a terror offence. Sir Keir Starmer said it is 'not appropriate' for the Irish hip hop group to cash in at the festival. 2 2 Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh, appeared in court last week accused of displaying a flag in support of banned terror group Hezbollah at a gig. O hAnnaidh, 27, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, was bailed until later in the summe r — leaving him free to play at Glastonbury. Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM, left, said: 'No I don't. 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' The Belfast group are due to play the West Holts Stage on Saturday. Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh have supported O hAnnaidh. They said at court: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on Saturday. 'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC. Most importantly: free, free Palestine.' The BBC last night faced pressure not to air Kneecap's set, after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'It should not be rewarding extremism.' A spokesman for the broadcaster said: 'Decisions on our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.'
