Gladiators star Barney Walsh banned from driving for speeding in Mercedes

Gladiators presenter Barney Walsh has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught exceeding the temporary 50mph speed limit on the motorway.

The 28-year-old driver was caught going 58 mph on an 80 mph section of the M4 while behind the wheel of his 2023 black Mercedes-Benz SUV.

The incident occurred on October 27 last year at junction 19 westbound in south Gloucestershire, where a temporary maximum speed restriction was in place.

Walsh, who presents the popular BBC game show with his father Bradley, was sentenced to prison for the offense at Romford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

His lawyer Gwyn Lewis told judges the TV star was not attending the hearing due to “work commitments” that “currently take him out of the UK”.

Mr Lewis, who was instructed by Walsh to appear in court on his own behalf, told the court his client had nine points on his licence, meaning disqualification was “inevitable”.

Mr Lewis added: “I was not instructed to resist the disqualification decision and was told not to drive from last night.”

Walsh had previously pleaded guilty to exceeding the temporary 50 mph speed limit on the motorway.

Judge Janis Sanders banned Walsh from driving for six months.

He was also ordered to pay a £72 fixed penalty notice, a £28 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Mr Lewis said Walsh was able to pay the fixed penalty notice within 28 days.

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

He has presented Gladiators alongside his 65-year-old father since the show was rebooted in early 2024.

A minor speeding violation usually results in three penalty points. Drivers with 12 or more penalty points are generally prohibited from driving.