Barney Walsh has had some dream jobs presenting high-profile shows alongside his dad Bradley
– but the young actor has admitted that his role on Casualty is the one that really has his heart.
The 26-year-old TV star first found fame on travel challenge series Breaking Dad alongside his screen veteran dad Bradley,
and the pair have since had a huge hit with the relaunch of Gladiators, which is set to film a second series soon.
But when Barney landed his first major acting role in Casualty last year, he knew he had finally achieved his childhood dream, and says the job will always have a special place in his heart after years of auditioning for a big break.
He plays nurse Cameron “Cam” Mickelthwaite in the long-running BBC medical drama and is set to take centre stage in a new 12-episode story titled Storm Damage that will see Cam caught up in a red weather warning on the way to work.
Things take a traumatic turn when he gets to the hospital and has to deal with the death of a baby injured in a freak accident, before a figure from his past arrives on the hospital board played by Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley.
Asked how he was balancing his presenting work alongside Bradley with his Casualty role, Barney told TV Times that it was “a slight challenge” but that Gladiators filmed an episode a day so was quick to complete.
“I’m so grateful to be able to do that while telling these Casualty stories because, growing up, acting is all I wanted to do,” he added. “Going from audition to audition to finally getting the call for Casualty, it’s a dream come true.
“I love my other jobs and we’re very excited for series two of Gladiators, but this one will always be in my heart because of that.”
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Barney is about to be launched into a major Casualty storyline, but he’s already had a pinch-me moment in his role as Cam after appearing in show icon Derek Thompson’s final episode as Charlie Fairhead.
He said: “It was special being involved in Casualty legend Charlie Fairhead’s exit story. There was a real fear when the news came out that Derek Thompson was leaving about whether Charlie would die or not, so to be part of saving his life was a really cool moment!”
The star, who appeared in The Larkins alongside Bradley, also hinted that he and his dad would be back together for a new series of Breaking Dad as he told fans to “stay tuned” when asked about rumours that it would film in Asia.
