Dan Walker issues statement as allegations against ex-Football Focus presenter withdrawn

Former Football Focus presenter Dan Walker has issued a statement after allegations of bullying and misogyny made against him by a Channel 5 co-anchor were withdrawn.

Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, who left Channel 5 in 2024, co-presented their news programme alongside Walker between 2022 and 2023.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Walker would appear at an employment tribunal, after he was named as a respondent to Vanderpuije's claims of sexism, misogyny and bullying in the workplace against Channel 5 and ITN.

She filed claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment on grounds of race and sex, and breach of contract.

Walker strenuously denied the allegations against him and it was reported that he had 'more than 50' character witness statements from journalistic colleagues and sportspeople among others.

ITN and Channel 5 also denied the claims.

Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije worked for Channel 5 between 2016 and 2024 (Image: Getty)

Vanderpuije has now withdrawn all of her allegations, with her lawyers confirming that she had reached a mutual agreement with both ITN and Channel 5 'in respect of the matters subject to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," they added.

A Channel 5 spokesperson stated: "We strongly reject the claims that were made and are pleased that this matter has been resolved and that all the allegations relating to Dan Walker have been withdrawn."

Walker himself has now taken to Twitter to release his own statement on the matter.

Dan Walker issues statement

"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," he wrote.

"Through all of this, I have always been concerned for the claimant's wellbeing, 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.

"My thanks also to my legal team and the wonderful colleagues at 5 News and Classic FM who have supported me every step of the way."

Walker stepped down as the presenter of Football Focus in 2021 after spending 12 years on the show.

He had become a lead presenter of BBC Breakfast in 2016, leaving that role in 2022 to join Channel 5. He replaced Sian Williams, who had previously been with the BBC between 2001 and 2015.