Bradley Walsh has been a regular on our TV screens for years, but the Gladiators host has been open about his ongoing health struggles
The Chase: Bradley Walsh apologises to viewers three times
Television icon Bradley Walsh has openly discussed the serious health battles he’s confronted away from the cameras.
The 65 year old star, who rose to prominence during the 1990s, has established himself as one of Britain’s most recognisable faces. Whether displaying his theatrical talents in Coronation Street or fronting popular programmes such as The Chase and Blankety Blank, Bradley has maintained a prolific career.
The presenter returns to television screens this month for the latest instalment of the BBC’s revived Gladiators. He shares presenting duties on the programme with his son Barney, following the broadcaster’s decision to resurrect the format in 2024.
Whilst Bradley has generally maintained good health throughout his career, he has been candid about various medical conditions that have affected him over the years, reports the Mirror.
He said he ‘struggles’ (Image: ITV)
Bradley’s ‘really bad’ condition,
Back in 2017, Bradley spoke frankly about a persistent health complaint that causes his eyes to appear inflamed and puffy. He disclosed that he lives with blepharitis, an ailment which produces a noticeably swollen appearance around his face.
During an appearance on This Morning, he explained: “People don’t realise I have seriously bad blepharitis. I have to take one pill a day for it or I really struggle. I am going to need my eyes operated on at some point to sort it out.”
He continued: “So many times, people have commented on how I look. But they don’t realise. If I take medication though, I’m fine.”
Bradley explained to audiences that blepharitis causes inflamed, reddened and irritated eyelids, often accompanied by flaking or crusting around the lashes. In particularly acute cases, sufferers may discover their eyelids have become completely sealed shut after sleeping.
Turning 60 was a ‘milestone’ for Bradley (Image: BBC)
Bradley’s heart disease scare
Bradley chose to transform his lifestyle in 2020 following a heart disease scare, which brought back memories of his father’s death from heart failure at the age of 59. In conversation with The Sun on Sunday, Bradley discussed how this family tragedy affected him.
“I had a hang-up because my father, Daniel, died at the age of 59,” he said. “I had it in the back of my mind that I just had to get past my dad’s age.
“So turning 60 was a bit of a milestone. I was 33 when he passed away. I’d just done the Royal Variety Show performance which helped launch my career, but my dad died from heart failure two weeks after that and never got to see it.”
Bradley ‘was a ticking time bomb’
The presenter has also discussed living with high cholesterol, an inherited condition from his mother. Speaking to The Sun, he revealed: “I’m not on statins but what my heart guy said was: ‘Look, Brad, if you start training, all that (cholesterol) will drop. You need to get fit’,” he said.
“I was a time bomb. I was quite lucky in regards to the calcium test but my doctor said I produce too much cholesterol. It’s a silent killer.” Spurred on by these health worries, the ITV and BBC host took determined action towards a healthier way of life, ultimately shedding 10lbs.
Bradley’s health clearly remains a priority, as he recently told Heat magazine: “I want to get slimmer and fitter. As you get older, it’s much harder, but I really want to get fitter.”
Bradley went on to say: “Well, I’ve been asking the Gladiators for tips, and they’re really lovely. They tell me what to eat or what to take. I’ve got myself a trainer, and I’m actually eating properly.”