With the Gladiators strutting around in skin-tight latex, the presenters seldom get fans’ attention, but one footage of Bradley Walsh makes them drooling.
Fans of the famous competition programme will recognise the 63-year-old presenter as co-hosting the new relaunch with his son Barney for the BBC.
However, everyone was startled when The Chase presenter appeared in a Celebrities vs Jockeys special in 1997, wearing in similar pink shorts and a T-shirt.
When Bradley entered the Sumo Ball field, he peeled off his large shirt and shorts to reveal a pink skintight bikini, with the commentator hinting it was his ‘drag’ character.
Original narrator John Sachs sarcastically questioned whether his ‘wife knew about this’, referring to Barney’s mother Donna, who married Bradley that same year.
‘I, ladies and gentlemen, am the new girl Gladiator, Crumpet,’ the then 37-year-old Bradley announced to the crowd.
The audience clapped and laughed as he flashed his biceps on the platform before taking on the frightening Wolf, also known as Michael Van Wijk.
He chose to have Warrior play in his place, cautiously down the ladder before giggling with Ulrika Jonsson about his ‘flesh-coloured tights’.
The video was shared on YouTube, and many couldn’t get over Bradley’s ‘fit’ appearance as he exposed his abs.
‘Can we all agree he looks really fit in that outfit,’ praised user chocolatechipkookie3439, loving the pink fit.
Also showering him in compliments, KayleighNatasha added: ‘Brad really suits the colour pink.’
Others called the clip ‘prophetic’ as user NukSooKow-yp9py joked: ‘Little did Bradley know…..this was prophetic for the lunacy of the future.’
In the 27 years since, the presenter has become well-known for his easygoing fun in front of the camera and incisive humour.
Brad’s appearance was complimented almost as much as his presenting, and several said his young glow reminded them of another Gladiators presenter.
‘He looks so much like Barney there,’ Smithy225 said, referring to his son, who has followed in his father’s footsteps with presenting and acting roles.
Bradley and a very young Barney were frequent visitors on set, and the Casualty star took some of his first steps on the renowned stadium floor.
That’s all owing to his wife and mother, Donna, who was the original show’s main choreographer for the cheerleaders, known as G-Force.
Of course, Bradley has dressed more modestly for his comeback to Gladiators as a presenter with Barney.
In the revamped series, Finlay Anderson and Marie-Louise Nicholson emerged victorious in a thrilling finale.
After 11 weeks of intense difficulties, they triumphed over other finalists Wesley Male and Bronte Jones.
Gladiators has been renewed for a second season, with 8.7 million viewers tuning in.
To apply for the next season of the programme, anybody over the age of 18 can visit the BBC’s website via this link by June 13, 2024.
Gladiators is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.