Bradley Walsh has said he would be tempted by a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing that his fondness for live television is a key draw. The Chase host made the comments during an appearance on Heart Breakfast, where the conversation turned to the BBC dance programme.
Speaking with hosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden about The Traitors, Theakston suggested Walsh would make an excellent host of the show. Holden agreed, asking whether Strictly might be due another shake-up and whether Walsh would consider such a move.
Walsh on the appeal of live TV
Addressing the proposal, Walsh said he would be keen on the opportunity, pointing to a specific element of the role that attracts him. "Well, not necessarily. They always say, 'Brad, would you do it?' And I would like to do the job because I love working in live television, and I haven't done it for so long," he said, as reported by the Mirror.
He went on to explain that the unpredictable nature of live broadcasting holds significant appeal. "Yeah, but I love live telly because it's dangerous," Walsh added.
Strictly's presenting shake-up
Walsh's remarks follow Strictly undergoing a significant presenting change after the departures of long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman last year. Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have since joined the programme, taking on presenting duties in a revamped line-up that has divided viewers.
Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse and her husband Marius Iepure have also commented on the changes, raising concerns about the amount of airtime given to contestant interviews. Speaking on Oti's podcast, The Fifth Judge, Iepure suggested there was "too much talking" between the presenters and couples.
Oti agreed, arguing that Radebe could handle the entire interview segment on his own rather than dividing the questions among the presenters. She said: "So I don't understand why that whole section is just not Jojo, because he's doing a great job. He can ask all four questions by himself. That's his job."
Walsh's viewing habits
Walsh also disclosed how much television he watches during the week, despite initially giving the impression he was not an especially avid viewer. He explained that his Saturday evenings consist of watching Strictly, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Match of the Day, frequently switching between the programmes.
He admitted to being a big fan of football and golf before revealing that his Sundays are largely taken up by Match of the Day 2 and four consecutive hours of the classic detective series Columbo. Holden found the revelation entertaining, telling Walsh that her husband, Chris, was equally keen on the programme.
