Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije says she was made redundant after blowing the whistle on a ‘toxic culture’ in the Channel 5 newsroom. Dan Walker has been accused of sexism, bullying, and misogyny against a black woman in the workplace, leading to a high-profile employment tribunal set to commence in London later this month.
Broadcaster and former BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker is set to appear at a London employment tribunal following explosive allegations by his former Channel 5 News co-anchor, Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije.
Vanderpuije, who co-hosted alongside Walker for a year between 2022 and 2023, has filed serious claims encompassing:
Unfair dismissal
Discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race and sex
Breach of contract
Suffering a detriment or dismissal due to exercising rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act (whistleblowing)
The 47-year-old broadcaster departed Channel 5 in 2023 after five years at the network, spending her final year co-presenting with Walker, 49, who joined the channel’s evening news broadcast in April 2022.
“Denied in Full”
Both Dan Walker and the production company ITN—which is responsible for news output on ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5—have categorically denied the allegations.
An ITN spokesperson addressed the impending legal battle on Sunday, stating: “This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.”
According to sources close to Walker, the presenter has been left “absolutely stunned” and deeply upset by the accusations. An insider speaking to the Mail on Sunday noted: “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.”
Character Witnesses and Previous Investigations
Walker is reportedly preparing a robust defense for the tribunal. It is understood that more than 50 character witness statements have been submitted in his support, drawing on endorsements from BBC journalists, Olympians, and footballers.
This is not the first time Walker has faced scrutiny regarding his workplace conduct. He was previously the subject of an internal workplace investigation following a separate “multi-pronged complaint.” However, that complaint was not upheld, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Reflecting on the prior inquiry in an interview with The Telegraph last year, Walker stated:
“I haven’t really talked about it, but that was fully investigated and everything was completely incorrect and I was entirely vindicated by an independent inquiry. So yeah, that’s not nice, but you hold on to what you know the truth is and ultimately the truth is the important thing.”
Tribunal Details and Key Figures
The case highlights the increasing scrutiny on workplace culture and accountability within the British media industry. The tribunal is scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026, and is expected to last up to five days.
Key Figures & Entities
Role in the Tribunal
Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije
Claimant (Former Channel 5 co-anchor)
Dan Walker
Named Respondent
Rachel Corp
Named Respondent (ITN CEO)
ITN
Named Respondent (Production Company)
Paramount Global
Named Respondent (Owner of Channel 5)
Jonathan Coad
Legal Representative for Vanderpuije
Vanderpuije has reportedly hired Jonathan Coad—a lawyer known for representing high-profile clients in the media space, including Phillip Schofield—to lead her legal team. Coad allegedly attempted to settle the complaint out of court twice, but both offers were rejected.
As the London employment tribunal approaches, the media industry remains closely focused on the outcome of a case that has drawn significant attention to the inner workings of the Channel 5 newsroom.
