Dan Walker to appear at tribunal as ex-Channel 5 co-host alleges discrimination

By Mathilde Grandjean, Press Association

Presenter Dan Walker will appear at an employment tribunal after his former Channel 5 News co–host alleged racial and sexist discrimination.

Broadcaster Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije, who co-hosted the show with Walker for a year between 2022 and 2023, has filed claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment on grounds of race and sex, and breach of contract.

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

Walker, a former BBC Breakfast host and Strictly Come Dancing contestant who now presents the weekday breakfast show on Classic FM, is listed as a respondent alongside Channel 5 and ITN – including ITN CEO Rachel Corp – and Paramount Global, which owns Channel 5.

An ITN spokesperson said on Sunday: “This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.”

It is understood that an internal investigation into claims against Walker was not upheld and no misconduct was found.

The case is scheduled to be heard at a London employment tribunal from April 20 and expected to last five days.