By Nicola Moyne
THE name Bradley Walsh means different things to different people: to some he will always be Coronation Street’s lovable rogue Danny Baldwin, while to others he’s the more complex Ronnie Brooks from Law & Order.
However, before the acting came the comedy, and 49-year-old Bradley is keen to get back to his roots this spring.
After a six year absence from the stage, likeable Bradley is once again bringing comedy to towns across the country with his show The Wife’s New Shoes – but don’t make the mistake of thinking it has anything to do with either his wife, or her new shoes.
“The title started out as a complete joke,” Bradley tells me. “My manager phoned me up and said ‘so, what are we going to call the tour’ and I said ‘I don’t know – call it The Wife’s New Shoes’ - which was a joke,” he laughs. “But the next thing I know it’s plastered all over the leaflets. It has nothing to do with my wife though!”
Instead the show, which comes to the Cliffs Pavilion on 1 May, concentrates on Bradley’s break into showbusiness, his friendships with fellow comedians Joe Pasquale and Billy Connolly, and what really goes on backstage at big events.
“It’s observational comedy and I talk about my early days, as well as singing a few jazz numbers,” the dad-of-two explains. “I love jazz music, so I’ve got a band with me and I’m going to sing some songs that really mean something to me.”
However, with two new quiz shows – The Chase and Odd One Out – being aired this summer, and the third series of Law & Order due to hit screens, I wonder how Bradley finds the time to do everything?
“I am pretty busy,” he laughs. “But I took the time out for the tour because people were writing in and asking when I was doing another show.
“Plus I love the comedy work and I’ve missed being up on stage. Variety really is the spice of life.”
And Bradley certainly seems to be enjoying life right now. The King of comedy, quizzes and now drama, it seems as though there’s nothing he can’t do.
“I have been really lucky,” the Epping-based entertainer admits. “Doing Coronation Street was fantastic, and I’d never say no to going back. Danny was a great character to play and I’m really glad they didn’t kill him off or anything like that.
“I’d also love to be a lead in a West End musical – a new one; one that’s never been done before,” he reveals. “That would be great fun.”
And, with that cheeky grin, I have no doubt that the offers will soon be flooding in.
For now though he’s concentrating on the tour – and then taking a break.
“The reaction from audiences has been great so far; it’s a really good feeling to be back out there,” he explains.
“It ends in July though, so I think I’ll take a bit of a break afterwards and put my feet up!” It’s certainly well-deserved Bradley.
Catch Bradley Walsh in The Wife’s New Shoes at the Cliffs Pavilion on 1 May.
For further details, or to book tickets to the show, call 01702 351 135.