Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad

*Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad*
Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad
Directed by	Phil Ashton
Starring	Bradley Walsh; Barney Walsh
Narrated by	Alexander Armstrong
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	29
Production
Executive producer	Dan Baldwin
Producers	Robert Fletcher; Molly Sayers
Running time	30 minutes including adverts; 60 minutes (Christmas special) including adverts
Production company	Hungry Bear Media
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	2 January 2019 –; present

Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad is a British television series in which the comedian and presenter Bradley Walsh is taken by his son Barney on a coming-of-age road trip across several countries.^[1] To date, four series have aired, plus a Christmas Special, all of which were narrated by Alexander Armstrong. The title of the series is a play on the American crime drama Breaking Bad. The fifth series premiered on 10 January 2023. On 25 October 2023 it was announced that ITV has renewed the show for a sixth series to air in 2025.^[2] ^[3]

Overview

Bradley Walsh and his son Barney visit countries in an RV whilst partaking in challenges along the way.^[4]^[5]

Transmissions

Series	Episodes	Originally released
Series	Episodes	First released	Last released
1	4	2 January 2019 (2019-01-02)	23 January 2019 (2019-01-23)
2	6	8 January 2020 (2020-01-08)	12 February 2020 (2020-02-12)
3	6	11 January 2021 (2021-01-11)	15 February 2021 (2021-02-15)
Christmas Special		24 December 2021 (2021-12-24)
4	6	17 January 2022 (2022-01-17)	21 February 2022 (2022-02-21)
5	7	10 January 2023 (2023-01-10)	14 February 2023 (2023-02-14)
6	TBA	2025 (2025)	2025 (2025)

Episodes

All viewing figures are from BARB.^[6]

Series 1 (2019)

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"LA (Los Angeles)"	2 January 2019 (2019-01-02)	6.34
The duo begin their trip by picking up their 36-foot, 7.5 tonne RV from their starting point in the city of Los Angeles. They travel straight to Venice Beach where they play volleyball, and then move on to a workout on Muscle Beach with two burly personal trainers. The day ends with the duo driving to Banning Airport in California.
2	"Arizona"	9 January 2019 (2019-01-09)	6.67
Barney and Bradley leave LA behind them, and head into the Mojave Desert towards Arizona, arriving at the famous Route 66. On the way, they stop by at Roy’s Café to have their picture taken with the café’s sign. Their next stop is Lake Havasu City, followed by Arizona Cowboy College deep in the Sonoran Desert. As the ranch owners review their work as cowboys, Barney and Bradley round off their day with a singalong around the campfire.
3	"Texas"	16 January 2019 (2019-01-16)	6.40
In Texas, Barney and Bradley visit a space centre, learn how to fire tanks and hear tales about UFOs. They follow in the footsteps of astronauts such as John Glenn as they undertake centrifuge training, letting them experience five times the gravitational force than that on earth. They then speak to some UFO enthusiasts on the outskirts of the city of Houston.
4	"New Orleans"	23 January 2019 (2019-01-23)	N/A (<6.64)^[a]
Bradley meets the Captain of The Natchez boat in New Orleans and experiences the jazz on board. Soon after, Barney reveals he has arranged for them to meet a Voodoo High Priest for some energy cleansing. After the session ends, the duo head 75 miles out of the city to the small town of Gibson, where they find the home of many alligators. The final stop of the trip is New Orleans's famous French Quarter, the home of the Mardi Gras parade.

Series 2 (2020)

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Florida"	8 January 2020 (2020-01-08)	5.97
Bradley and Barney begin their second series in Florida, where they visit the Palm Beach International Raceway and the home of the author Earnest Hemmingway, and get close up to sharks.
2	"Smoky Mountains"	15 January 2020 (2020-01-15)	N/A (<6.22)^[a]
The duo head to the Great Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee-North Carolina border and go canoeing. After a swig of whiskey, they experience clog dancing and chopping wood with the aid of competitive lumberjacks.
3	"Kentucky"	22 January 2020 (2020-01-22)	N/A (<6.27)^[a]
For the next leg of their journey, Bradley and Barney visit the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, before heading to the supposedly haunted Poasttown Elementary School in Middletown, Ohio. The next day, they travel to Louisville, birthplace of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, where they follow in his footsteps by sparring at the local boxing gym. At the end of a long day, Barney rewards his dad with a well-earned meal at a KFC restaurant in Kentucky - the home state of the chain's founder Colonel Harland Sanders.
4	"Ohio"	29 January 2020 (2020-01-29)	N/A (<5.83)^[a]
This time, the actor and his son arrive in Ohio, where they head for Dayton - the birthplace of aviation - before the pair attend a local rodeo later that evening. Brad soon realises that they are not just there to spectate on the sport, they are also expected to take part. However, a nasty fall from an angry bull means Brad spends the rest of the night in hospital.
5	"Vermont"	5 February 2020 (2020-02-05)	5.97
Bradley is on the mend following his rodeo injury and determined to get back behind the wheel of the RV. As the pair continue on their journey, Barney is thrilled to be celebrating his birthday with a trip to the iconic Niagara Falls. Later, Bradley and Barney take the RV on a small cargo ferry as they head to Vermont. Here, the pair have a go at ice climbing, which proves treacherous for them and the crew, before a spot of dog sledding through the frozen wilderness and an inevitable race through the forests.
6	"Maine"	12 February 2020 (2020-02-12)	N/A (<6.04)^[a]
On the final leg of their journey, the pair continue through the snow to New Hampshire. Here, they meet rally-driving champion Tim O'Neil who gives them a crash course in driving in the ice and snow before they take on an intense time trial. The pair travel on to Maine, where they take part in some wilderness training, before bidding farewell to the RV and heading out into the extremely choppy seas for some lobster fishing. Before heading home, the pair look back on some of their favourite moments from the trip.

Series 3 (2021)

The third series was originally planned for broadcast from 4 January 2021, but was pulled back a week because of Boris Johnson's Prime Ministerial broadcast.

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Netherlands"	11 January 2021 (2021-01-11)	6.11
In the first episode of the series they'll be travelling from their home in Essex all the way to The Netherlands, where they try out one of the country’s oldest sports, canal jumping. The action continues when the pair don lycra for a spot of velodrome track cycling, alongside a world champion, and before they leave the country, father and son take on the world’s tallest freestanding climbing wall.
2	"Germany"	18 January 2021 (2021-01-18)	5.82
Bradley and Barney continue their European adventure in Germany. They head to the city of Frankfurt, where Brad is pushed to the edge, as he attempts to abseil down the side of a building, facing forwards. The boys also make a stop at a bratwurst themed hotel and soak up some local Bavarian culture when they have a go at Finger Wrestling. The pair finish off their time in Germany with an adventure in the mountains.
3	"Switzerland"	25 January 2021 (2021-01-25)	5.88
The next stop on Bradley and Barney’s European road trip is Switzerland. They take in the views with a ride on a mountain rollercoaster, before exercising their vocal chords when they try the Swiss tradition of yodeling. The following day, Barney arranges a unique way for them to enjoy some local cheese, and then drive to the Contra Dam, where Barney reveals they are about to attempt one of James Bond’s most iconic stunts, a 220 metre-high bungee jump.
4	"Slovenia"	1 February 2021 (2021-02-01)	5.54
This week the pair head to Slovenia where Bradley’s passion for bikes gives Barney an excuse to take his dad motocross racing, which turns out to be a very slippery challenge. After hearing that 1 in 200 people in Slovenia are beekeepers, they make a stop to meet one. They are then treated to some unusual honey therapies. Upon reaching the capital city of Ljubljana, things take a turn when the pair join Slovenia’s national Quidditch team, followed by a trip towards the mountains in Planica, where they have a go at ski jumping. Their stay in Slovenia ends with a visit to a cave.
5	"Italy: Part 1"	8 February 2021 (2021-02-08)	5.88
For the penultimate leg of their journey, Bradley and Barney head to Italy, starting in Lake Garda, where Barney surprises his dad by explaining they'll be running off the top of Monte Baldo and paragliding over the lake below. Soon after, Bradley takes a dip in the lake when he tries paddleboard yoga. The next day they travel to the River Po for a boat trip, as Bradley is treated to a hair-raising ride in a Formula 1 speed boat. They then head towards the coast for a surprise when father and son are invited to the home of opera superstar, Andrea Bocelli.
6	"Italy: Part 2"	15 February 2021 (2021-02-15)	5.92
Barney and Bradley Walsh embark on the final leg of their European road trip, as they continue to explore Italy. Having reached Rome, they take a trip back in time to battle it out as gladiators. They continue south and make a stop to soak up the views from a sky high zipwire. As the boys reach their final stop on the Amalfi Coast, they get the chance to swim in the sea, but they'll have to cliff dive in first.

Christmas Special (2021)

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Iceland"	24 December 2021 (2021-12-24)	N/A

Series 4 (2022)

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Croatia"	17 January 2022 (2022-01-17)	N/A
Bradley and Barney Walsh embark on a 3000 mile journey through Europe, starting off in the sunny south of Croatia where the pair go head-to-head on aqua bikes.
2	"Hungary"	24 January 2022 (2022-01-24)	N/A
Bradley and Barney say hello to Hungary, where the boys take to Lake Balaton for some high-speed catamaran sailing before sampling some world-famous goulash.
3	"Poland"	31 January 2022 (2022-01-31)	N/A
The boys take in a spot of sightseeing in Krakow, before they don wetsuits and head to a freezing cold lake to try out water blobbing.
4	"Denmark (Scandinavia)"	7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)	N/A
The boys arrive in Denmark for the Scandinavian leg of their tour. Bradley's fear of heights is pushed to the limits with a visit to an offshore wind turbine.
5	"Sweden (Scandinavia)"	14 February 2022 (2022-02-14)	N/A
6	"Norway (Scandinavia)"	21 February 2022 (2022-02-21)	N/A

Series 5 (2023)

No.	Episode	First broadcast	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Mexico: Part 1"	10 January 2023 (2023-01-10)	N/A
2	"Mexico: Part 2"	10 January 2023 (2023-01-10)	N/A
3	"Guatemala"	17 January 2023 (2023-01-17)	N/A
4	"Nicaragua"	24 January 2023 (2023-01-24)	N/A
5	"Costa Rica: Part 1"	31 January 2023 (2023-01-31)	N/A
6	"Costa Rica: Part 2"	7 February 2023 (2023-02-07)	N/A
7	"Panama^[7]"	14 February 2023 (2023-02-14)	N/A

Reception

The Times stated, "Bradley Walsh and his son took a good-natured road trip to the US, but it all seemed like an excuse to get Walsh Jr some TV exposure."^[8]

The series achieved average viewing figures of 5 million an episode, making it Britain's highest rating celebrity travelogue in nearly 10 years.^[9]

A critical Radio Times review said that the show had "a distinct feel of scripted banter" and that Bradley Walsh was in "his least-convincing role to date".^[10]

Some fans want episodes of Breaking Dad to be longer.^[11]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Not reported in the weekly top 15 programmes for four-screen viewer ratings.

References

^ Doran, Sarah. "Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad - S1 - Episode 1: LA". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^ "ITV orders another series of Bradley and Barney Walsh's Breaking Dad". 25 October 2023.
^ Darvill, Josh (17 January 2022). "Bradley and Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad returns with new series". TellyMix.
^ Rajani, Deepika (23 January 2019). "Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad – when it's on ITV tonight and everything else". inews. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^ Seale, Jack (9 January 2019). "Wednesday's best TV: Ballet and Bullets; Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^ "Most viewed programmes Barb". Retrieved 5 January 2025.
^ "Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
^ Midgley, Carol (3 January 2019). "TV review: Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad; The Twinstitute". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^ "Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad scores 5 million viewers". Hungry Bear Media. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^ Taylor, Frances (21 December 2018). "ITV's Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad is his least convincing role to date". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
^ Rodger, James (18 January 2022). "Breaking Dad fans have same complaint about Bradley Walsh show". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links

[Unreported_UK_viewers_15-7] Not reported in the weekly top 15 programmes for four-screen viewer ratings.

[1] Doran, Sarah. "Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad - S1 - Episode 1: LA". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

[2] "ITV orders another series of Bradley and Barney Walsh's Breaking Dad". 25 October 2023.

[3] Darvill, Josh (17 January 2022). "Bradley and Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad returns with new series". TellyMix.

[4] Rajani, Deepika (23 January 2019). "Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad – when it's on ITV tonight and everything else". inews. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.

[5] Seale, Jack (9 January 2019). "Wednesday's best TV: Ballet and Bullets; Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.

[6] "Most viewed programmes Barb". Retrieved 5 January 2025.

[8] "Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

[9] Midgley, Carol (3 January 2019). "TV review: Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad; The Twinstitute". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.

[10] "Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad scores 5 million viewers". Hungry Bear Media. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.

[11] Taylor, Frances (21 December 2018). "ITV's Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad is his least convincing role to date". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

[12] Rodger, James (18 January 2022). "Breaking Dad fans have same complaint about Bradley Walsh show". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

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