Former BBC newsreader Dan Walker is set to appear at an employment tribunal later this month following allegations made by his former co-host Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije
Eve Wagstaff Social Newsdesk Reporter
10:36, 12 Apr 2026Updated 16:20, 12 Apr 2026
Dan Walker will appear at an employment tribunal following allegations of sexism, misogyny, and workplace bullying(Image: ITV)
Presenter Dan Walker is set to appear at an employment tribunal later this month following allegations of sexism, misogyny, and workplace bullying.
The former BBC Breakfast host is due to face his former Channel 5 News co-anchor, Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, at a hearing in London starting on 20 April. Proceedings are expected to last up to five weeks.
Walker, 49, 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.
Ms Vanderpuije, 47, who left Channel 5 in 2024 after six years on the programme, has brought the claims following her time working alongside Walker during her final year at the broadcaster.
Dan with former colleague Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije who has accused him of sexism, misogyny, and workplace bullying(Image: Channel 5 )
Walker has strongly denied the allegations. An ITN Spokesperson told the 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.
They finished: “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.”
It is understood that more than 50 character witness statements, which include footballers, Olympians, BBC journalists and presenters, and other colleagues, have been submitted in support of Walker.
Dan has strongly denied the allegations made against him(Image: Press Enquiries: press@channel5.com NOTE: Paramount images are for the use of Press outlets only. Any blogs requesting access to these images are required to seek approval from Paramount directly. Contact press@channel5.com
While we will continue to send out the weekly PI booklet every Friday, we have now launched the ViacomCBS Media Hub. This is an all-encompassing press centre where you can find the latest PI, press releases and other relevant information.)
Ms Vanderpuije 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.
Vanderpuije 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, 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.”
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.” However, this has been disputed and is said to be discussed at the upcoming trial.
Ms Vanderpuije claims that she was the victim of a “sham redundancy” due to a whistleblower she made, protecting disclusers, 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 and Vanderpuije for comment.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.