Walsh says working class roots made him the hardest working man in TV
ITV’S Bradleywalsh credits his working class roots for never turning down jobs, saying: “I will always be that baker’s boy”.
The 61-year-old comedian, presenter and star ofthe Larkins said he was born with his work ethic, holding four jobs from the age of 13 and even cheated for the role ofthe Chase quiz master to secure the job.
He told how he used to get up at 4.30am to stack shelves in a bakery before going back to sleep and waking up for school. He had so much energy he even wondered if he had ADHD at the time.
Workaholic Bradley, who also hosts the BBC’S Blankety Blank, has worked as a stand-up comedian and found time to act in Coronation Street and
Doctor Who.
In an interview for the BBC’S Desert Island Discs, broadcast today, he said: “I think it’s a working class thing. If I had just made £100million today, I’d still be wondering where my next beans on toast is coming from.
“I will always be that baker’s boy. I will always be collecting bottles as a kid, knowing I would make a thruppence back on them. It’s a work ethic.”
He added: “I had so much energy and I always wondered back in the day if I had ADHD. I was like a livewire, I was a firecracker in everything I did, I ran everywhere.”
Bradley revealed he was taking part in an early run-through of The Chase with senior ITV executives and two of the Chasers – Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace – and decided to take them on in the game after saying it was “easy”. He admitted he was able to read the answers on a face-down A4 piece of paper because the table was slightly lit from underneath and got the job, saying: “I just nailed them and I beat them!”
He also spoke about his life growing up inwatford, Herts, and being scouted by Brentford FC as a teenager.
And he told how he learnt his craft as an entertainer from showbiz legends Ronnie Corbett, Des O’connor and
Bruce Forsyth.