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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Jess Flaherty

Inside The Chase host Bradley Walsh's love life from cheating claims to little-known daughter

Bradley Walsh's love life has seen much speculation and rumours throughout his career.

The popular performer shot to fame entertaining the nation as an actor and presenter.

Since landing his hosting gig on The Chase in 2009, the comic presenter has raked in millions and amassed an army of fans.

Bradley is celebrating his 60th birthday this week, with ITV launching a series of tributes to the popular entertainer showcasing his career highlights.

But not much is known about his mysterious love life.

Bradley has been married to choreographer and former dancer Donna Derby since 1997 and they share a son, Barney, together.

The Mirror reports Bradley also has an older daughter, Hayley, who has stayed out of the celebrity spotlight.

Before he married Donna, Bradley got into hot water when Bernie Nolan claimed she caught him cheating and said it left her "utterly heartbroken", making allegations of two separate betrayals.

Here is a look back at Bradley's rocky love life.

Bernie Nolan

The Nolan sisters, Coleen, Bernie, Linda and Maureen Nolan, ahead of a UK tour to mark the 30th Anniversary of their hit, I'm in the Mood for Dancing (Publicity Picture)

Bernie said she was introduced to Bradley back in 1989 by her sister Coleen Nolan and her then partner Shane Richie.

Believing she had found the love of her life, Bernie revealed she even went shopping for a wedding dress.

Speaking to The Mirror in March 2011, ahead of the publication of the Nolans’ autobiography, Bernie said: “Shane Richie and Coleen introduced me to Bradley in 1989. They took me to see him in a show.

"Afterwards we chatted for the first time. It was a bit embarrassing because I already knew he fancied me, but it was awkward in a nice way.

"From that evening we were together. We never argued, we went for picnics in the Lake District and everything about our relationship seemed great when it was just the two of us."

But it was claimed Bradley had betrayed her by having at least two affairs during their three-year relationship.

Bernie continued: "But I quickly realised that whatever Brad did, there would be a woman involved. If he had tennis lessons, it would be with a woman. If he was in a show, he was surrounded by dancers.

“I was with him one day and a woman phoned him. I could hear her talking and it was obvious she was upset about something. ‘Her flat got burgled and she was a bit shaken up,’ Bradley explained when he put the phone down.

“It was only later I found out from a mutual friend that there hadn’t been a burglary and the other woman was upset for far more obvious reasons.

“But when I confronted Bradley, he was full of remorse and apologies. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, over and over again. ‘Please take me back, Bernie. I love you.’ What could I do? I loved him, too. So we got back together."

But Bernie claimed she was told her boyfriend had been seeing someone else behind her back again.

Bernie said: "But then I discovered Bradley had been sleeping with someone else. ‘Please don’t leave me,’ he said, starting to cry. ‘I’m so, so sorry, Bernie. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. All I know is that I love you and want to be with you.’

“It went on like that for ages. In the end, I relented again. I really thought Brad and I would marry and it’d be for keeps. Mum even took me out shopping to look at wedding dresses.”

Bernie said the final straw was when a friend allegedly spotted Bradley in a restaurant having a candle-lit dinner with one of the dancers from his show, and called Bernie to tell her.

Bernie Nolan died after a long battle with cancer (PA)

“I felt sick,” said Bernie. “I’d tried to trust him again and again, but each time I’d been made to look like a fool. I was due to visit Bradley that weekend, but I called him straightaway. ‘Hi, Brad,’ I said. ‘Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I just stayed in,’ he replied.

‘Oh, Bradley, you are such an idiot. Don’t you realise people tell me things?’

“Quick as a flash, Bradley had his answer ready: ‘Oh, we were just waiting for the other two to turn up.’ ‘It was a table for two,’ I said. ‘The waiters just put us there while they were getting the bigger table ready.’ It was all so obviously rubbish.

“I said, ‘Just stop lying, Bradley. Look, I’m not coming this weekend. In fact, I don’t want to see you any more at all.’ It was over. I put the phone down and cried my eyes out. I’d adored Bradley and I felt utterly heartbroken.

“When I think about it now, I feel I had a lucky escape. A while later he wrote me a letter saying he hoped we could still be mates. I wrote him one back saying: ‘I didn’t want to be your mate. I wanted to be your wife.’’’

Bernie went on to find happiness with drummer Steve Doneathy but sadly died in 2013 aged 52 after a three year battle with breast cancer.

Debbie Parker



Not much is known about Bradley's relationship with Debbie Parker, who is the mother of his first child.

Hayley Walsh was born in 1982 and is the half-sister of Bradley's son Barney.

While Barney has made many public appearances with his dad, including on their ITV2 show, it's been a different story for the other Walsh sibling.

Hayley has stayed out of the limelight and has taken a very different path in life to her dad and brother.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Hertfordshire, is a MAR reflexologist and has her own Instagram page dedicated to her work.

Donna Derby

Bradley Walsh and Donna Derby attend the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in 2019 (Getty Images)


Bradley married Donna Derby in 1997, with the pair sharing son Barney together.

Donna is known for being one of the original red-lipped 'Robert Palmer girls' in the video for 'Simply Irresistible' and also appeared in six episodes of The Kenny Everett Television Show from 1987 to 1988.

Bradley has frequently praised Donna for being an amazing mother and wife throughout their marriage.

Speaking about Donna in an 2006 interview with the Mirror, he said: "We've been married nine years but together since 1992. And you know, I wouldn't swap my missus for the world.

"Donna isn't just beautiful, she's the most fantastic wife and mother.

He also said he would not have joined Coronation Street if Donna had not been there to support him.

At the time, their son Barney was just nine years old and it meant Donna would have to spend long periods as a 'single mother' to him, while Bradley was away filming.

"It is because of her that I signed with Coronation Street. She's the one who recognised what it could do for me even though it would mean being apart," added Brad.

Debra Stephenson

Debra Stephenson and Bradley Walsh co-starred on Coronation Street (ITV)


Bradley starred opposite Debra Stephenson on hit long-running soap, Coronation Street.

But the co-stars were plagued by speculation and allegations they were having an affair in 2006 which they denied.

The Coronation Street co-stars, who played rowing Weatherfield couple Danny and Frankie Baldwin, were hit by rumours they had secretly shared romantic dates, kisses and texts.

The claims were reported in numerous publications including the Sunday Mirror, Celebs Now and Digital Spy throughout 2006.

Both adamantly denied anything was going on.

It was claimed Bradley and Debra first realised there was "something special" between them after secretly kissing while filming Corrie's 2005 Christmas Panto Cinderella, marking the ITV soap's 50th anniversary.

Rubbishing the allegations, the stars' spokesman at the time, Max Clifford, said: "My clients Bradley Walsh and Debra Stephenson have nothing to say regarding these allegations.

"Everyone at Coronation Street knows that they have become very close friends in recent years and naturally, because of the show, spend a great deal of time together.

"Whilst it is clear to anyone who knows them that they are both extremely fond of each other, they are not having an affair."

Max Clifford died in 2017.

Bradley Walsh was contacted for a comment.

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