Dan Walker Receives High-Profile Support from Sue Barker Ahead of Tribunal
Former BBC newsreader Dan Walker is preparing to appear at an employment tribunal on Monday, following serious allegations made by his former Channel 5 co-host, Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije. The 49-year-old presenter, who joined Channel 5 News in April 2022, is named as a respondent in the case alongside ITN, the programme's producer, and Channel 5's parent company, Paramount.
Allegations and Denials
Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, 47, who left Channel 5 in 2024 after six years on the programme, has brought claims of sexism, misogyny, and workplace bullying against Walker. These allegations stem from her final year working alongside him at the broadcaster. Dan Walker has strongly denied all accusations, with an ITN spokesperson stating, "This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process."
An insider revealed that Walker will attend the tribunal later this month to clear his name, noting that there will be "tonnes of witness statements" to defend his character. More than 50 people are understood to have come forward in support of the father-of-three, providing witness statements and testimonials that will be heard over the coming days and weeks.
Sue Barker's Public Backing
One notable supporter is esteemed broadcaster Sue Barker, who worked with Walker at BBC Sport. In a statement to The Sun, Barker described Walker as "one of the nicest, most courteous and hard-working presenters I have broadcast with." She added, "I don’t feel I’m putting my head above the parapet speaking up for Dan. I know he’d do the same. When I read what was in the papers, I was happy to contact him and give 100 per cent support. I told him to stay strong and that I would help in any way I could."
Legal Proceedings and Claims
Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije is being represented by lawyer Jonathan Coad, who previously represented Philip Schofield. It is reported that attempts to settle the complaint twice have been turned down. Vanderpuije also reportedly asked her Instagram followers to message her two weeks ago if they wanted to "know more about the allegations."
In a previous statement to The Telegraph, Dan Walker said, "I haven’t really talked about it, but that was fully investigated and everything was completely incorrect and I was entirely vindicated by an independent inquiry. So yeah, that’s not nice, but you hold on to what you know the truth is and ultimately the truth is the important thing." However, this has been disputed and is expected to be discussed at the upcoming trial.
Broader Allegations Against Channel 5
Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije claims she was the victim of a "sham redundancy" due to a whistleblower disclosure, alleging that a toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny, and bullying existed in the Channel 5 Newsroom. She also asserts that editorial content reflected this "racist culture" and that ITN and Channel 5 attempted to cover it up, breaching obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and their Ofcom License.
Walker concluded, "I know I’m not that person, so… And yeah there’s days you worry about that but also you know that that’s a picture you don’t recognise, and nobody you’ve ever worked with recognises." The Mirror has approached representatives for Walker, Vanderpuije, and Barker for further comment.
