Dan Walker tribunal: Ex-Channel 5 presenter withdraws allegations | Ents & Arts News

Presenter Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije has withdrawn claims against her former Channel 5 News co-host Dan Walker after reaching a “mutual agreement” with the broadcaster and ITN.

Walker had been due to give evidence in the trial after his Channel 5 News co-host Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije alleged sexist and racial discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Walker was listed as a respondent in the claims alongside ITN and its chief executive Rachel Corp, and Channel 5 and its owner Paramount.

Vanderpuije had also filed a claim of suffering a detriment or dismissal due to exercising rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act – more commonly known as whistleblowing.

The case had been due to be heard at the London Tribunals Centre next week, but an agreement was reached during a minute-long hearing on Friday, when employment judge Emma Webster dismissed all the claims.

A statement from her lawyers said: “Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije can confirm that a mutual agreement has been reached with ITN and Channel 5 in respect of the matters subject to Tribunal proceedings. Claudia-Liza fully withdraws her allegations relating to Dan Walker and does not intend to repeat or pursue them.”

Walker shared a statement on his Instagram page moments after the agreement was announced.

‘I hope she finds peace’

He wrote: “I firmly feel that I should never have been pulled into this; however, I was fully prepared to go to tribunal and defend the allegations which were levelled at me.

“Through all of this I have always been concerned for the claimant’s well-being, and that has not changed. I hope she finds peace.”

He also thanked his family and friends for their support, adding: “I will be forever grateful to those who were kind enough to go on the record with their accounts of working alongside me.”

A Channel 5 spokesperson said: “We strongly reject the claims that were made and are pleased that this matter has been resolved and that all the allegations relating to Dan Walker have been withdrawn.”

An ITN spokesperson said: “We continue to deny these claims in full, and we are glad this matter has been resolved.”

It’s understood that an earlier investigation into claims against Walker, commissioned by ITN but carried out independently, was not upheld, and no misconduct was found.

Walker, 49, presented BBC Breakfast for six years before joining Channel 5’s flagship news bulletin, 5 News, as lead presenter in 2022. He hosted alongside Vanderpuije for a year.

A sports fan, Walker previously hosted Football Focus and worked across various Olympic Games for the BBC.

He also competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, finishing in fifth place.

Vanderpuije, 47, worked for channels including London Live, Talk and Sky News before joining Channel 5 in 2018.

She was announced as co-host of 5 News in 2022, but left the company in 2024.