Dan Walker to Face Employment Tribunal Over Bullying Allegations
Television presenter Dan Walker is set to appear at an employment tribunal in London later this month, facing serious accusations from his former Channel 5 News co-anchor. The broadcaster, aged 49, will confront claims of sexism, misogyny and bullying levied by Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, 47, during a hearing expected to span four days starting from 20 April.
Denials and Support for Walker
A spokesperson for ITN, the production company responsible for news output on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, has stated that Walker denies the claims in full. "This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process," the spokesperson told The Independent. Representatives for both Walker and Vanderpuije have been contacted for further comment.
An insider speaking to The Mail on Sunday emphasised that the Strictly Come Dancing star and former BBC Breakfast host "absolutely denies any sexism, misogyny, racism or bullying". The source added, "It has been hanging over him for some years now. He will be at London Central tribunal later this month. Nobody wants this but he will be there to tell the judge the truth."
The source also highlighted the support Walker has received, noting, "There will be tons of witness statements which will talk to Dan's character. He has been absolutely stunned with the amount of people willing to support him. He has been stunned and actually very upset to be accused of such things."
Background of the Accusations
The allegations stem from Vanderpuije, who departed Channel 5 in 2023 after a five-year tenure, having presented alongside Walker for only her final year. This is not the first instance of controversy surrounding Walker. In 2024, he was subject to a "multi-pronged complaint" that prompted an investigation by network bosses.
Walker was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing, with independent investigators citing "a lack of evidence to support allegations". A Channel 5 spokesperson confirmed at the time that "none" of the claims had been upheld. Reflecting on the ordeal in an interview with The Telegraph, Walker stated, "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."
Walker's Career and Personal Struggles
Walker joined Channel 5's evening news in 2022 after leaving BBC Breakfast, where the demanding schedule took a significant toll on his mental health. He revealed that the early morning routine, requiring a 3am wake-up call, often left him emotional and exhausted. "By Wednesday I was like, full zombie mode. And also you get really emotional," he shared on This Morning last month. "End of the show, you are like, in the toilets just crying. Anything sets you off. Someone says something nice about your trousers and you are [crying]."
Despite these challenges, Walker has since returned to morning hosting duties, now presenting Classic FM's breakfast show. The upcoming tribunal will scrutinise the fresh allegations as both parties prepare to present their cases in a legal setting, with the outcome likely to impact Walker's professional reputation and career trajectory.
