As British telly icon Bradley Walsh celebrated his 65th birthday this week, whispers of "slowing down" have been doing the rounds; however, with his chock-a-block schedule, that seems a distant reality.

Walsh, a treasured presence on our televisions, continues to delight audiences with an array of cherished programmes including 'The Chase', 'Gladiators', 'Blankety Blank', and the travel series 'Breaking Dad', where he embarks on adventures alongside his son Barney Walsh.

Yet, before becoming synonymous with the TV screen, Walsh embarked on an eclectic career journey, commencing as an apprentice jet engineer with Rolls Royce, followed by a short stint in the spotlight on Brentford FC's football field, until an injury prematurely ended his sporting aspirations.

His foray into entertainment began as a Pontins bluecoat entertainer, where he first experienced the allure of performance. However, his inclination for mischief, a trait that frequently landed him in hot water at school and past jobs, culminated in his sacking from Pontins.

In a candid chat with Comedy.co.uk earlier in the year, Walsh recalled: "Once I left that to get into the entertainment industry and become a blue coat, I got sacked from being the bloke that was messing around. I thought that was the job! In the end I thought to myself, why don't I just get paid for messing around?"

After his stint at Pontins, Bradley Walsh decided to venture into comedy, stating, "That was a very conscious decision. So, I've got myself a routine together,". He described his comedic style as, "I was a very physical comic, bit like Norman Wisdom, not so many jokes. I was a very physical comic. And that's where it all started."

Bradley Walsh has been a familiar face on our telly for over two decades, showcasing his talents as a comedian, actor, and presenter. His impressive acting CV includes roles such as Danny Baldwin on ITV's 'Coronation Street', DS Ronnie Brooks in 'Law and Order: UK' and playing Graham O'Brien in 'Doctor Who' on BBC One, according to Gloucestershire Live.

In 2009, Bradley took the helm as host of ITV's quiz sensation 'The Chase', marking a significant shift in his career trajectory. Walsh explained how he landed the opportunity to host The Chase after dropping by ITV studios to ask about presenting roles.

While reminiscing with the former head of daytime TV, she mentioned an upcoming quiz show concept, which sparked Bradley's interest. Recalling their conversation, Bradley said: "I took it away and I said 'Yes, this can work, this will work' and she said, 'Okay, well we're going to make a pilot' and I said, 'I'll do it for you' and she said, 'Yeah, but it's only an office run-through' and I said, 'I'll do it for you, don't worry'."

Bradley Walsh reflected on his journey with The Chase during a chat on the Tommy Tiernan show last year, recalling how he helped launch the pilot and came up with the nicknames for The Chasers. Fast forward nearly 16 years, and Bradley's passion for the show is as strong as ever, with no plans to hang up his hosting hat.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he shared his thoughts on continuing: "Until people say they've had enough and start switching off, I'll do it. We've had such an extraordinary time together. It's the best job in the world."