Gladiators’ new host Barney Walsh reveals classic game he was banned from on set of BBC reboot
BARNEY Walsh would be competing in Gladiators, not hosting the show, if he had his way.
The Casualty actor, who joins dad Bradley for his new presenting role on BBC One, admits the job was the last thing on his mind when he first stepped into the arena.
After having a first look at the series’ epic new games, with THREE in store to wow viewers this weekend, he was desperate to give it a go.
But he was barred from taking part in his favourite games, The Wall and The Eliminator, because production were worried he’d break a bone.
Barney revealed: “Before filming the show, we went down there a few days early to look at everything – we’d spent time studying all the old shows, but wanted to see the new games.
“It was so much fun having a look around this mad spectacle, but I can’t lie, it just made me want to have a go at the games.
“I really just wanted to have a go at The Eliminator, and I thought The Wall would be fun.
“I did ask, but they wouldn’t let me – I guess they didn’t want me to be hosting wearing crutches… Maybe next time.”
Dad Bradley didn’t share his enthusiasm, adding: “That’s definitely his sort of thing, not mine.”
Barney, who currently plays Cam in BBC drama Casualty, will be seen for the first time on Gladiators this weekend.
He and dad Bradley accepted the job due to their family ties to the show, which saw Barney’s mum Donna work as an associate producer, and a cheerleader choreographer, on the original series.
Bradley explained: “I used to go down, I’d watch five weeks of filming up at the NIA in Birmingham when Donna was working there.
“And then Barney came along, I used to walk Barney round in the pram around on the arena floor, meeting all the Gladiators, so it was a whole family affair.
“When we were asked to do a nostalgia show, I just thought, ‘Why not?'”
Barney adds of his presenting gig alongside dad Bradley: “Gladiators is just me and dad on screen doing our thing, because we’re friends first and foremost.
“It’s like with Breaking Dad, we’re just there having a bit of banter and a bit of fun, we’re just hanging out with some presenting between.”
“Now we’re counting down to the first episode, I’m feeling so passionate about bringing this show back to life and to new audiences and to showcasing something spectacular.”
BRASSIC SELL VAN TO FANS
BRASSIC’S mobile erotic parlour has been put up for sale to the show’s superfans.
The 1987 campervan was memorably used by Ryan Sampson‘s Tommo, to transport the gang to Ringo and Babs’ wedding in 2022.
The vehicle, which appeared in the first episode of the Sky comedy’s fourth season, comes complete with the sex dungeon-on-wheels’ velvet and satin bed, and velour decor.
And a Brassic viewer can bid to own the brilliant piece of show memorabilia, estimated to be worth £4,000.
The listing reveals: “It’s come directly from the film company, and it thus still features the somewhat interesting living interior as seen on screen.”
The sale comes ahead of the sixth series of the show, which is due to air later this year.
THE BBC is developing a new drama series about one of Britain’s most notorious unidentified serial killers.
The currently untitled show focuses on Bible John, who killed three women in Scotland in the 1960s, and is in development with the company behind ITV drama series Crime.