Bradley Walsh has been a staple of British TV for decades but the ITV and BBC presenter has struggled with his health over the years
Inside Bradley Walsh health battles from ‘seriously bad’ issue to ‘time bomb’ condition(Image: BBC)
Bradley Walsh may be a telly icon, but behind the scenes, the much-loved presenter has battled some serious health scares.
Since bursting onto our screens in the 90s, Bradley, 65, has become one of Britain’s most recognisable faces. Whether he’s showcasing his acting talents on Coronation Street or fronting hugely popular programmes like The Chase and Blankety Blank, Bradley has never been short of work.
Bradley is gracing our screens again this month too, returning for the latest series of BBC’s Gladiators. He presents the popular show alongside his son Barney after the BBC relaunched it in 2024.
And whilst Bradley has maintained good health throughout most of his career, he has been candid over the years about the medical problems he’s encountered, reports the Mirror.
Bradley’s ‘really bad’ condition
He said he ‘struggles’(Image: ITV)
Back in 2017, Bradley spoke openly about his persistent health battle that causes his eyes to appear swollen and inflamed. He disclosed that he lives with blepharitis, a condition that creates a puffy appearance on 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 viewers that blepharitis causes swollen, red, and itchy eyelids, along with flaky or crusty lashes. In serious cases, sufferers may discover their eyelids completely sealed shut when they wake up.
Bradley’s heart disease scare
Turning 60 was a ‘milestone’ for Bradley(Image: ITV)
Bradley took the decision to transform his lifestyle back in 2020 following a frightening brush with heart disease, which brought back painful memories of losing his father to heart failure at just 59 years old. Opening up to The Sun on Sunday, the presenter shared how his dad’s premature death left a lasting mark on 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 time bomb’
He was warned by his doctor(Image: BBC)
The star has also been candid about his battle with high cholesterol, an inherited condition passed down from his mum. Speaking to The Sun, he recalled the stark warning from his doctor: “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 serious health warnings, the popular ITV and BBC host made significant changes to his daily routine, successfully shedding 10lbs in the process.
Bradley’s commitment to his wellbeing remains strong, as he recently told Heat magazine this month: “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.”
