DAN Walker is facing an employment tribunal after a former Channel 5 News co-anchor made allegations of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying.
The ex BBC Breakfast host has been named as a respondent in Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije’s claims, along with ITN, which makes Channel 5 News, and station owner Paramount.
A hearing is due to begin in London on April 20 and last up to five weeks.
Walker, 49, who joined as Vanderpuije’s co-anchor in April 2022 after leaving the Beeb, profusely denies the allegations.
Vanderpuije’s legal team told The Sun she has been “the victim
of vile social media abuse” since the reports first emerged.
Her lawyer Jonathan Coad added: “Claudia-Liza claims that she was the victim of a sham redundancy because as a whistleblower she made protected disclosures alleging that a toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying existed in the Channel 5 Newsroom.”
ITN has denied all claims in full.
Vanderpuije, who left Channel 5 in 2024, worked with Walker for her final 12 months with the broadcaster.
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.”
In April 2024, Walker was fully cleared following a workplace investigation into “serious misconduct”.
It’s understood this also related to Vanderpuije’s complaints against him.
Walker told The Daily Telegraph later that year: “That was fully investigated and I was entirely vindicated by an independent inquiry.”
In a statement, Vanderpuije’s legal team added: “Claudia-Liza is constrained for legal reasons from saying anything further about her claims until the trial when they will be set out in full in the submissions made by her barrister.”
An ITN spokesperson told The Sun: “This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.”
The Sun has contacted Paramount, as well as Walker’s reps for comment.
