Dan Walker speaks out after former Channel 5 co-host withdraws bullying claims

Dan Walker has spoken out after his former co-anchor Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije reached a ‘mutual agreement’ with ITN and Channel 5.

Vanderpuije had accused the broadcaster of a ‘toxic culture’ in the newsroom, in a case that was due to be heard at an employment tribunal from Monday.

As part of the same case, the former BBC Breakfast presenter was accused of sexism, misogyny and bullying by Vanderpuije. He denied all the allegations.

The 49-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star had been named in the claims, along with ITN, which makes Channel 5 News, and Channel 5 owner Paramount.

Walker has said in a post to Instagram that he hopes his former Channel 5 co-host Vanderpuije ‘finds peace’.

He said: ‘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.

‘I want to thank my family and friends for all their love and support through this. I will be forever grateful to those who were kind enough to go on the record with their accounts of working alongside me.’

He added: ‘I firmly feel that I should never have been pulled into this.’

Meanwhile, the full statement from Vanderpuije’s 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.’

The legal teams are said to have had private hearings with employment judge Emma Webber throughout this week.

The court building reportedly stayed open late so the parties could finalise the negotiations of the settlement, according to The Sun.

Walker had been due to appear at the employment tribunal beginning on Monday.

But in a minute-long hearing, Judge Webster dismissed all the claims.

An ITN spokesperson said in the wake of the settlement: ‘We continue to deny these claims in full, and we are glad this matter has been resolved.’

Vanderpuije left Channel 5 in 2024 after five years, with her final year spent presenting alongside Walker, after he joined in a high-profile move from the BBC.

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