The son of TV royalty Bradley Walsh, Barney has carved himself a career in his own right in recent years.
Actor Barney, 26, played a teenage King Arthur in the famous Guy Ritchie film King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword alongside David Beckham and Jude Law and has starred alongside his father in travel show Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad.
In January, the father-son duo again took to screens as they were unveiled as the presenters of the reboot of the beloved programme Gladiators.
He also features in BBC show Casualty and in light of Charlie Fairhead’s exit, the Mail On Sunday revealed BBC bosses are keen to use Barney’s newfound high profile to fill that void.
Barney, whose mother is choreographer and dancer Donna Derby, has also appeared in TV shows such as The Larkins, Death in Paradise, Doctors, and Law & Order UK.
The son of TV royalty Bradley Walsh, Barney has carved himself a career in his own right in recent years (seen for Gladiators)
Actor Barney, 26, has appeared in Casualty since 2023 (pictured) and has starred alongside his father in travel show Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad
He has also taken part in All Star Musicals and made several appearances on CelebAbility and Celebrity Catchphrase in both 2021 and 2023.
Last year, Barney joined Casualty as hapless staff nurse Cameron Mickelthwaite.
It was reported on Sunday that the BBC is hoping Barney will fill the void left by Derek, 75, who played Charlie for 38 years. Bosses believe they can cash in on Barney’s high profile.
In Charlie’s absence, Cam would have bigger storylines and, executives hope, he would pull in younger viewers.
Barney is also in talks to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Since 2019, Barney has appeared next to his father on their ITV series Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, in which the pair take on challenges while travelling the world.
Bradley’s wife – and Barney’s mother – Donna also has links to Gladiators, as she was head choreographer for the Gladiators cheerleaders in the original 1990s series.
Bradley, 63, recalled Barney taking some of his first steps on the original arena floor as a toddler ahead of the series.
It was reported on Sunday that the BBC is hoping Barney will fill the void left by Thompson, 75. Bosses believe they can cash in on his high profile (seen with father Bradley in 2022)
Since 2019, Barney has appeared next to his father on their ITV series Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, in which the pair take on challenges while travelling the world
Bradley’s wife – and Barney’s mother – Donna also has links to Gladiators , as she was head choreographer for the Gladiators cheerleaders in the original 1990s series (Seen together in 2018)
However the up-and-coming actor’s rise to fame came with some backlash, as viewers accused the BBC of ‘nepotism’ and bosses at the corporation also expressed concerns.
Bosses were said to be ‘concerned’ at the signing, particularly because of the corporation’s strong policies about going through due process before hiring staff.
Fans of the show were also furious about the casting of Barney alongside Bradley.
Viewers lambasted the BBC over the appointments. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I’m not convinced Bradley Walsh is right for the show and I’m less convinced his son is. This nepotism is unedifying.’
Another said: ‘Why is the BBC indulging in such utterly blatant nepotism?’
The offspring of celebrities who work in the same industries as their famous parents have been branded ‘nepo-babies’.
One BBC staff member told the Mail: ‘It has caused a stink’, adding that the casting has been noticed by the ‘upper echelons’, some of whom ‘aren’t exactly happy’.
Last year, Barney joined Casualty as hapless staff nurse Cameron Mickelthwaite (pictured)
Barney is also in talks to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing (seen in 2023)
However the up-and-coming actor’s rise to fame came with some backlash, as viewers accused the BBC of ‘nepotism’ and bosses at the corporation also expressed concerns (seen in 2022)
But Bradley insisted that the BBC chose them to front Gladiators as they could attract a full range of age groups to watch the show, which was previously aired on ITV.
He said: ‘It was a situation where the BBC was aiming for older generations and younger generations coming together. Gladiators was absolutely huge back in the day, and a lot of the young people who were watching it when it came out have grown up and they’ve now got kids of their own.
‘It’s a generational thing. We want the parents who grew up watching Gladiators, after their parents showed them it, to then show it to their kids.
‘That’s why myself and my dad are doing it. Father and son, family show, bringing it all together.’
Bradley has plenty of experience presenting game shows, having hosted Wheel Of Fortune in the 1990s and ITV quiz show The Chase since 2009. He also presents the revamped game show Blankety Blank, following in the footsteps of Terry Wogan and Les Dawson.
