Bradley Walsh has revealed that he initially believed he was “going to prove” that the pyramids in Egypt were constructed by aliens before embarking on an investigation for his latest television series.
The 64-year-old presenter, best known for The Chase and Gladiators, has long been fascinated by the ancient tombs of Giza. His interest dates back to childhood, as his schoolteacher was the great-niece of Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb.
As part of the Sky History documentary Bradley Walsh: Egypt’s Cosmic Code, Walsh travelled to Egypt to explore a long-standing conspiracy theory that the pyramids were not built by the Ancient Egyptians but by a lost civilisation or extraterrestrial beings.
Seeking the truth
Discussing his journey, Walsh said:
“Prior to arriving in Egypt, I’m thinking: this is going to be great, I’m going to prove this is the aliens. People say I’m a conspiracy theorist. I’m not. All I did was say: ‘It could be this,’ and I needed to find out what is the truth.”
However, after witnessing the evidence firsthand, he admitted that his perspective changed.
“You then realise it’s very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids,” he explained.
Through expert guidance from historians Meredith and Arto, Walsh was able to trace the evolution of pyramid construction. He noted that the pyramids built before the Great Pyramid of Giza show signs of experimentation, with some appearing “wonky” or structurally unsound.
“If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids – one’s wonky, one’s drooping on one side, it’s all trial and error,” he said.
Doubts on the electricity theory
Walsh also appeared to cast doubt on the claim that the Great Pyramid was once used to generate electricity.
“Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. I’ve maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right,” he said.
However, the experience of being inside the structure made him reconsider the theory.
“It was mind-blowing being there,” he added.
A historical perspective
Walsh also reflected on a surprising historical fact that struck him during his journey:
“The final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, who was the lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, actually lived closer to our time than to the era when the first pyramids were built. That just blew my mind.”
The presenter expressed his frustration with online misinformation surrounding the pyramids, stating:
“You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there. They’ve got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation.
“Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind – it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.”
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Egypt’s official stance on pyramid theories
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built more than 4,600 years ago, was constructed to house Khufu, a king of Egypt’s 4th dynasty. While conspiracy theories persist, the Egyptian government has repeatedly invited sceptics to visit the country and learn the factual history of these iconic structures.
In 2020, South African billionaire Elon Musk made headlines when he posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).”
In response, Egypt’s then-minister of international co-operation, Rania al-Mashat, invited Musk to visit the pyramids and learn about their construction.
“I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and SpaceX to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. Mr Musk, we are waiting for you,” she wrote.
Musk later acknowledged a “sensible summary” explaining the pyramids’ construction, citing archaeological evidence that Egyptian workers built the structures and lived in nearby settlements.
Bradley Walsh’s upcoming documentary
Walsh’s documentary, Bradley Walsh: Egypt’s Cosmic Code, promises to provide viewers with a fresh perspective on one of history’s greatest architectural feats. The programme will air on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
