Bradley Walsh interview: 'Time travel is a wonderful thing'

Showbiz polymath Bradley Walsh talks about his new album of classic songs and becoming the Doctor’s companion

Bradley Walsh has been a professional footballer, a Pontins Bluecoat, a stand-up comedian, a straight actor, a soap star, and a warm-up man for Shirley Bassey. He has played the boss of the Coronation Street knicker factory, a detective battling to keep his alcoholism at bay in Law & Order: UK, and Buttons in Cinderella. He is host of The Chase, quite the best quiz show on TV, compère of Tonight at the London Palladium, and released an album so popular that it became the biggest-selling British debut of 2016.

So anyone surprised by Walsh’s recent unveiling as Doctor Who’s new companion simply hasn’t been paying attention. The man can turn his hand to pretty much anything.

At 57, he is the oldest actor to be cast in a role previously played by Billie Piper and Bonnie Langford, and...