Walshs

The Chase host Bradley Walsh returned to screens with a brand-new show on Sunday

Channel 4 viewers were left divided as they watched Bradley Walsh‘s new show.

The pilot for the host’s new show, Bradley Walsh’s Million Pount Shot, aired on Sunday night (November 1). During the episode, three contestants stepped up in front of a live studio audience for the chance to win up to £1 million.

However, the contestants had to put their own money on the line for the chance to win the jackpot. This is something that no previous UK quiz show has done before.

The contestants brought their own bank cards and bet money, depending on how confident they were in answering general knowledge questions. Correct answers won bet balls that carried monetary value, which players could either cash out or risk by firing them into the Million Pound Shot machine in an attempt to win £1 million.

Viewers were introduced to Helen, Reece, and Mark, who had chosen to risk £1,500, £1,700 and £1,000 of their own money, respectively. As Reece later found himself £6,000 down, an angry audience member was heard shouting: “The concept of this is disgusting.”

The footage cut out, before Bradley returned to the studio to explain: “What you’ve just witnessed wasn’t all that it seemed. The whole thing was a performance… Everything you’ve seen tonight draws on the techniques used by the gambling industry to manipulate its customers.”

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The character of Reece was inspired by a real man called Patrick, who later shared his story. Bradley issued a warning to viewers, saying: “I should warn you that what we’re about to explore may be difficult and upsetting for some viewers. Because, like any addiction, gambling can cause serious harm.”

The programme quickly left viewers divided. “The most obvious fake show I’ve ever seen,” one person wrote on X. Another added: “This makes zero sense at all.” A third said: “How absolutely ridiculous.” Someone else commented: “Bradley Walsh and Channel 4 presenting an anti-gambling stunt is prob the strangest TV ep I’ve ever seen.”

Meanwhile, other viewers praised the show for raising awareness of gambling. “Well played C4. A subject that needs airtime,” someone wrote.

Another added: “#MillionPoundShot had me frighteningly uncomfortable with the idea of a national broadcaster normalising people gambling/losing huge, unaffordable, life-changing money. It seemed so stupidly irresponsible. Thank god for that twist. A hugely important message.” A third said: “Kudos to Brad and those involved for highlighting the seriousness of gambling advertising and addiction.”

Sharing his thoughts on the programme, Bradley previously said: “This programme is unlike anything we’ve seen on British TV before. And when I heard about this format, I thought it was one of the most original and surprising quiz shows I’d ever encountered. Alongside playing with their own money, there are more twists and turns along the way. I’m excited for everyone to see how it plays out.”

Bradley Walsh’s Million Pound Shot is available to stream on Channel 4

The National Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential help for anyone who is worried about their gambling, or someone else’s gambling

Louis Walsh has revealed that before he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, his doctors were unable to identify the disease in his body

Louis Walsh has revealed that doctors initially ‘couldn’t find anything’ before he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The TV star and music manager was diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinemia in 2024.

The former X Factor star. 74, publicly shared his diagnosis during an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, telling Love Island star Ekin-Su and Levi Roots that during lockdown, he was “sick” and nobody knew he had been secretly battling cancer. He later underwent treatment in Dublin.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare, slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects white blood cells in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues. During an appearance on The Big Interview, Louis shared that medics initially couldn’t find the disease in his body.

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“I had a cancer called Waldenström,” he said. Louis went on to add: “And I didn’t know I had it. And at the end of the X Factor series, I was just feeling very weak, and I went to the doctors.

“They couldn’t find anything. And then, one of the doctors called me back, and he said, ‘I think it’s this rare one’ — it would be rare for me — ‘called Waldenström.’ But I’m told, if you’re going to get a cancer, this is the one to get!”

When asked if he underwent any treatment, he disclosed: “I had chemo for a week. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad at all – but I couldn’t sleep at night time, so the nurses gave me loads of tea. They were so nice, and I was smiling.”

Louis was later asked whether he was in remission and “100 per cent clear of cancer,” to which he responded: “I think so, oh totally, yeah.” Reflecting on his private health battle, he said in the Big Brother house: “I didn’t even know I had it until I went to the hospital. They checked me, and then they found it.”

He said that his diagnosis affected him mentally, saying: “It’s just up here; even when I go past a hospital, I almost get sick. It’s all gone, I’m fine. It was just the shock of being sick, and that word – nobody wants that word.

“I have it blocked out, a reality check. You see so many people sick, and it’s terrible. In my world, it was all about pop music and all that. I didn’t think of anybody getting sick or anything like that. And that was like, wow, reality check – you’re in the real world.”

During his time on the show, Louis was often seen sleeping. A source said at the time: “Louis is in remission currently but you can see how frail he is and that he has lost a lot of weight. It’s also the reason why he’s sleeping so much; it all took a lot out of him.

“The whole experience was the main driver behind signing up for the show. He’d been really ill and just wanted to enjoy life again and thought, ‘What the hell!'”

The Big Interview: Louis Walsh airs Tuesday, October 27, at 9pm on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media One.