TV presenter and actor Bradley Walsh 'just laughed' when he was crowned the UK's top debut music artist in 2016
TV star Bradley Walsh has said he found it 'hysterical' to be crowned the UK’s most successful debut artist of 2016.
The comedian and presenter’s first album, Chasing Dreams, outsold records by former One Direction star Zayn Malik, fellow newcomer Jack Garratt, as well as Mercury Prize-winning Skepta and singer-songwriter Tom Odell.
On Monday, the star, 56, was presented with a gold disc in recognition of his achievements.
The Chase presenter told The Guardian: “I just laughed when I found out.
“I thought it was hysterical. I am probably the oldest new artist Sony has ever signed.
“Niall Horan (Malik’s former 1D bandmate) was sending me messages, laughing his head off. And I got big congratulations from Simon Cowell. He thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Bradley’s collection of his favourite songs, released on Sony at the end of November 2016, was the only debut by a British act to go gold as it sold more than 100,000 copies.
The record includes covers of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon and Barbra Streisand’s What Kind Of Fool.
https://youtu.be/07JAryA6ZJA
In a statement, Bradley said he was 'totally blown away' to have gone gold, adding: “Growing up, I was always in awe of anyone who received a gold disc.”
