Bradley Walsh ‘faces dilemma as he is favourite to be Strictly host’

Bradley Walsh has become a frontrunner for the new host of Strictly Come Dancing. 

Earlier this week, it was reported filming for The Chase has been halted for ‘at least a year’.

Bradley, 65, who has presented the show since 2009, is said to be one of producers’ favourites to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped back from the show last year. 

But TV insiders think the presenter could be faced with a huge dilemma as he is the face of another huge Saturday night show, Gladiators. 

Bradley and his son Barney, 28, brought back the nineties reboot in 2024, with the show becoming an instant ratings hit.  

It has so far spanned three series, two celebrity versions and CBBC spin-off, with many of the Gladiators making a string of TV appearances including Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Sewing Bee. 

If Bradley was to get the Strictly job, he may have to walk away from Gladiators which has helped launched his son’s presenting career.   

Barney began his career in various acting roles including Law & Order: UK and Doctors and then worked alongside his father on ITV’s Breaking Dad, before landing the primetime show, Gladiators.  

A source told The Sun: ‘Bradley is hugely ambitious and hard-working and hosting Strictly was a job he was born to do. But family is hugely important to him. He is very close to Barney and has helped him throughout his career.

‘His son is currently enjoying having the biggest job of his life so far, but it’s unlikely the Beeb would let his dad host two big Saturday night shows.

‘Producers want stars to be synonymous with those shows, and doing two big entertainment blockbusters on the BBC doesn’t sit well with channel chiefs, so does Bradley stay on Gladiators and secure his son’s future, or go for the job of a lifetime — and jeopardise his son’s future?’ 

The publication also states Bradley has an action-packed schedule, even if The Chase takes a break from filming. 

The presenter hosts Blankety Blank and Egypt’s Cosmic Code for Sky History. The Chase requires him to film three episodes a day for 50 days a year. He previously joked he ‘virtually lives at the studios’. 

Daily Mail has contacted Bradley’s representatives and the BBC for comment. 

The shortlist has reportedly been narrowed down to television favourites Bradley and Rylan Clark, alongside current pro dancer Johannes Radebe. 

Producers are said to be keen to introduce a male presenter who could follow in the footsteps of Bruce Forsyth, returning to a format that features a male and female main host.

Sources claim producers behind Strictly Come Dancing are planning to screen test their preferred candidates in the coming weeks.

The successful presenter would reportedly front the BBC One show alongside a female host.

It was recently reported that Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are also strongly being considered for one of the hosting spots by bosses.

Emma, 49, recently took over from Zoe, 55, on BBC Radio 2 after she stepped down from the afternoon slot after just seven months.

Zoe has said she would ‘love’ to take on the hosting job, who previously hosted Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two until 2021.