The previous BBC Breakfast star confronted a slew of bullying allegations from broadcaster Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije.
Dan Walker has damaged his silence after settling his ‘bullying’ claims (Picture: Getty)
TV presenter Dan Walker has damaged his silence after he settled his former co-host’s racism, sexism and bullying employment declare. It’s understood that broadcaster Claudia-Liza Vanderpuiju reached a “mutual settlement” with ITN and Channel 5. She has now withdrawn her claims in opposition to former co-host Walker, an announcement from her attorneys confirmed.
The dad-of-three was accused of sexism, misogyny and bullying, all of which he has denied. On Friday (April 24), Claudia-Liza strode into the London Tribunals Centre sporting a pinstripe blazer, whereas Dan selected to not come. Their authorized groups had personal hearings with employment decide Emma Webber on Monday (April 20), yesterday (April 23) and this morning.
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Each events formally agreed to a settlement on the final second of court docket time, after days of negotiations, with the court docket constructing staying open late so they might finalise the paperwork. The 49-year-old ex-Strictly star, who just lately spoke out following Soccer Focus’s axe, had been named within the claims, together with ITN, which makes Channel 5 Information, and Channel 5 proprietor, Paramount.
Because of this the previous BBC Breakfast host has dodged an employment tribunal scheduled to happen over 5 weeks. Now, she has withdrawn her claims, along with her attorneys revealing: “Claudia-Liza totally withdraws her allegations regarding Dan Walker and doesn’t intend to repeat or pursue them.”
After the information broke, the 49-year-old broadcaster took to Instagram to share an announcement about the tribunal. He penned: “Channel 5 and ITN have reached an settlement with the claimant. I firmly really feel that I ought to have by no means been pulled into this; nonetheless, I used to be totally ready to go to the tribunal and defend the allegations which had been levelled at me.
“By way of all of this, I’ve all the time been involved for the claimant’s wellbeing, and that has not modified. I hope she finds peace. I need to thank my household and associates for all their love and help by this. I can be without end grateful to those that had been variety sufficient to go on the report with their accounts of working alongside me.”
He concluded: “My thanks additionally to my authorized workforce and the great colleagues at 5 Information and Basic FM who’ve supported me each step of the best way.” Claudia-Liza claimed that she was the sufferer of a sham redundancy as a result of, as a whistleblower, she made protected disclosures alleging {that a} poisonous tradition existed within the Channel 5 Newsroom, and that its editorial content material mirrored its racist tradition.
She additionally alleged that ITN and Channel 5 tried to cowl up the racist tradition at Channel 5 Information, which they’ve tolerated regardless of this breaching their statutory obligations underneath the Equality Act 2010 and the phrases of their Ofcom License. The presenter left Channel 5 in 2024, working with Walker for her remaining 12 months.
Dedicate Christian Dan had amassed greater than 50 character witness statements to defend himself forward of the tribunal. Veteran broadcaster Sue Barker additionally publicly defended him in an interview with The Solar. She informed the outlet: “I do not really feel I am placing my head above the parapet talking up for Dan. I do know he’d do the identical.
“I’ve sat subsequent to him manufacturing many occasions and he actually is likely one of the nicest, most courteous and hard-working presenters I’ve broadcast with. After I learn what was within the papers, I used to be pleased to contact him and provides 100 per cent help. I informed him to remain sturdy and that I’d assist in any means I might.”
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