Gladiators star banned from driving after speeding

Gladiators presenter Barney Walsh has been handed a six-month driving ban after breaking a temporary 50mph speed limit on a motorway.

The 28-year-old was behind the wheel of his black Mercedes-Benz SUV when he was caught driving at 58mph in a 50mph stretch of the M4 near Bristol.

The incident happened on 27 October at junction 19 westbound, where a temporary maximum speed restriction was in place.

Lawyer Gwyn Lewis - representing Walsh who did not attend the hearing at Romford Magistrates' Court due to work commitments - said a disqualification was "inevitable" due to his client already having nine points on his licence.

"I'm not instructed to resist the disqualification and he has been told he is not to drive from last night," Lewis added.

Walsh, who presents Gladiators with his father Bradley Walsh, previously pleaded guilty to one count of exceeding a temporary 50mph speed restriction on a motorway.

Alongside the ban, chairwoman of the magistrates' bench Janis Sanders also ordered Walsh to pay a fixed penalty notice of £72, a surcharge of £28 and prosecution costs of £85.

Lewis said Walsh was "in a position" to pay the fixed penalty notice within 28 days.

Walsh, of Epping in Essex, is a presenter and actor who has appeared in TV shows including Death in Paradise and Casualty.

He has co-presented Gladiators with his 65-year-old father since the show was relaunched in early 2024.

A minor speeding offence usually results in three penalty points. Motorists with 12 or more penalty points are typically banned from driving.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.