Bradley Walsh, the 66-year-old TV presenter and actor, has announced he is returning to acting after confirming that ITV's The Chase will pause filming for just over a year. Walsh, who recently starred as Pop Larkin in The Larkins, said he is excited to work on another drama during the hiatus.
Break from The Chase
Speaking to The Sun's TV Mag, Walsh explained that the show has been stockpiling episodes to allow the team a rest. "We’ve been stockpiling. So we’re going to take a rest for just over a year or something, which everyone is sort of thrilled about because they can go away and do other stuff," he said. "I haven’t been able to do a drama in ages, so I now get the opportunity to go back and do another drama."
New Sky History Series
Walsh is also set to host a brand-new series for Sky History, Out of This World, which blends scientific exploration with curiosity and humour as he investigates unexplained phenomena such as crop circles. The show will have access to official military files from the UK and US that document potential extraterrestrial sightings.
Affection for The Chase
Despite his excitement about new projects, Walsh made clear his fondness for The Chase. "It’s funny how the show gets into people’s psyche – familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, sometimes it just breeds happiness," he said. "The team are brilliant – the best I’ve ever worked with, bar none – and I love working with them, I really do. We’ve all become firm friends." He added that during the show's run, about 20 children have been born to production staff, calling it "the most wonderful thing."
Spin-off: The Chase Around The World
While the main show takes a break, a new spin-off titled The Chase Around The World will air from Thursday 16 July. The series will see six pairs of contestants travel to Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Rome and Zurich, ending in Athens, solving puzzles along the way. The winning team will take on the Chasers for a £100,000 prize.
