INTERVIEW: TV's Julia Bradbury talks about living in Buxton and returning to the Opera House

Julia Bradbury has been the Hollywood reporter for GMTV and lived in LA, she has presented Watchdog, Countryfile, and is now famous for walking the length and breadth of the British Isles with her new hiking shows.

She will be at the Opera House to give on Unforgettable Walks.

The 45-year-old said: “There are many things which make a walk unforgettable and people respond to walks with their own memories they have of certain places and certain people.

“It can be an sense of accomplishment from finishing a walk or getting outdoors and just starting a walk.”
Julia first started presenting walking programmes when she did the Wainwright Walks in 2007.

She said: “I like pushing myself and trying new things and I was talking to someone about TV and we both had a love from walking and it went from there.”

This then led to her being part of the team which took Countryfile from Sunday morning to a prime-time slot.

“It was an honour to be part of it, I think it and the walking shows are so popular because it gives people an escape for half an hour or so and if they aren’t walkers it is lovely viewing with some nice pictures too.”
Touching on the current political climate of the UK Julia said that walking is a great leveller.

“When you are out walking you could pass a mum, or sit resting next to a banker or student everyone is the same which is really nice.”

Recently Julia slept on the roof of the 02 in London as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations for the Duke of Edinburgh and said it was very cold and very windy.
Now a mum of three-under fives, Julia said: “Being on the road is good but coming home, especially to little ones is better.

“I have a rule where I won’t be away for more than two nights and three days that way I can always make it home for bath time and breakfast.

“So far filming in the UK this has worked but it does get a bit more tricky when I’m over seas.”

Returning home to Buxton

Julia lived in Buxton for a year when she was 12 before her dad, from Tideswell, took a job in Sheffield.

She said: “Buxton is a place I hold dear and have wonderful memories of tickling trout in the rivers with my dad who also gave me my love of walking.

“I am genuinely looking forward to coming back and seeing people and making new memories.”

Julia will be giving a talk on ‘Unforgettable Walks’ at the Buxton Opera House at 3.30pm on Sunday July 10, part of the Buxton Literary Festival.

Julia, who has championed walking across the globe, is Ramblers Worldwide Holidays celebrity ambassador and her talk will focus on her primetime ITV series Best Walks with a View, showcasing the beauty of Britain and how walking across a landscape brings people together.
To book tickets or for more information visit www.buxtonfestival.co.uk/literary-series/julia-bradbury/