Presenter Dan Walker is to appear at an employment tribunal accused of sexism, misogyny against a black woman and bullying in the workplace this month, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The former BBC Breakfast host will face his former Channel 5 News co–anchor Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije at the hearing in London on April 20. It is expected to last up to four days.
Walker, who joined her as co–presenter in April 2022 after leaving the BBC, is named as a respondent to Ms Vanderpuije’s claims, along with ITN, which makes Channel 5 News and Channel 5 owner Paramount.
The married father of three profusely denies the allegations and has more than 50 character witness statements from famous footballers, Olympians, BBC journalists and presenters, and other colleagues.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Dan absolutely denies any sexism, misogyny, racism or bullying. 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.
‘There will be tonnes 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.’
Ms Vanderpuije’s claims come after she departed Channel 5 in 2023 after five years presenting their news programme – the last 12 months with Walker, 49.
She has hired Phillip Schofield’s former lawyer Jonathan Coad and hoped to settle the matter. Sources say she demanded up to £13million in compensation from ITN and Paramount, which they refused.
Last week, Ms Vanderpuije’s legal team tried once again to settle, this time for £4million. But it was again turned down and now the case is set to go to tribunal.
Two weeks ago, Ms Vanderpuije asked her Instagram followers to message her if they wanted to ‘know more about the allegations’.
In April 2024, Walker – a devout Christian – was ‘completely exonerated’ following the conclusion of a workplace probe into ‘serious misconduct’. Sources familiar with the inquiry said there was a lack of evidence to support the claims and said former Strictly star Walker fully co–operated.
It is understood this probe related to 47–year–old Ms Vanderpuije’s complaints against him, but none was upheld.
In 2024, Mr Walker told The Daily Telegraph: ‘That was fully investigated and I was entirely vindicated by an independent inquiry.’ Both Walker and Ms Vanderpuije declined to comment, while ITN said: ‘This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.’
