Former BBC newsreader Dan Walker is set to appear at an employment tribunal on Monday following allegations made by his former Channel 5 co-host, Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije
Dan Walker has the support of one of the BBC’s most popular presenters ahead of his employment tribunal on Monday. The former Football Focus star, 49, is set to appear at the tribunal later this month following allegations of sexism, misogyny, and workplace bullying made by his former Channel 5 co-host, Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije.
Dan, who joined Channel 5 News in April 2022, is named as a respondent in the case alongside ITN, which produces the programme, and Channel 5’s parent company, Paramount. Claudia-Liza, 47, who left Channel 5 in 2024 after six years on the programme, has brought the claims following her time working alongside Dan during her final year at the broadcaster.
READ MORE: Dan Walker to fight ‘traumatic’ racism and bullying claims at tribunalREAD MORE: Who is Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije as Dan Walker faces ‘racism’ and ‘bullying’ claims
Dan has strongly denied the allegations. An ITN spokesperson told thse Mirror: “This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.” The insider explained that Dan will be at the tribunal later this month to clear his name, and added that there will be “tonnes of witness statements” to defend Dan’s character.
More than 50 people are understood to have come forward in support of the father-of-three, providing witness statements and testimonials, which will be heard over the coming days and weeks.
One famous face who is backing Dan is esteemed broadcaster, Sue Barker, who worked with the presenter at BBC Sport.
Claiming he is “one of the nicest presenters” she has worked with, she told The Sun: “I don’t feel I’m putting my head above the parapet speaking up for Dan. I know he’d do the same. I have sat next to him in production many times and he really is one of the nicest, most courteous and hard-working presenters I have broadcast with.
“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.”
Claudia-Liza is being represented by lawyer Jonathan Coad, who previously represented Philip Schofield, and has tried to settle the complaint twice, but has been turned down.
The presenter also reportedly asked her Instagram followers to message her two weeks ago if they wanted to “know more about the allegations’” .
Speaking last year to The Telegraph, Dan 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 will reportedly be discussed at the upcoming trial.
The father-of-three finished: “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.”
Claudia-Liza claims that she was the victim of a “sham redundancy” due to a whistleblower she made, protecting disclosers, alleging that a toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying took place in the Channel 5 Newsroom. She also claims that their editorial content reflected its “racist culture”.
She also claims that ITN and Channel 5 attempted to cover up the alleged racist culture at Channel 5 News, which allegedly tolerated the culture, breaching obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the terms of their Ofcom License.
The Mirror has approached representatives for Walker, Vanderpuije and Barker for comment.
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