Dan Walker to appear at tribunal as ex co-host brings bullying claim

It’s not often a former BBC Breakfast sofa ends up as evidence in an employment tribunal, but here we are.

Dan Walker is set to appear as a witness in a case brought by Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, his former co-presenter, who has filed a bullying claim that names both Walker and ITN as respondents. The case is expected to draw considerable attention, not least because it involves two of the more recognisable faces from British breakfast television.

Vanderpuije, who worked alongside Walker during his time at Channel 5 News, alleges she was subjected to bullying behaviour during her tenure. The specifics of her claims haven’t been made fully public ahead of the hearing, but the fact that ITN — the broadcaster behind Channel 5 News — is named alongside Walker suggests the complaint extends beyond any one individual’s conduct.

ITN has been unequivocal in its response. A spokesperson said the claims are “denied in full”, which is about as firm a rebuttal as you’ll get before a tribunal gets underway.

Walker himself, who left the BBC in 2022 after a decade on its flagship morning programme, has built a reputation as one of the more affable figures in British broadcasting. He’s spoken openly in the past about the importance of kindness in the workplace — which makes the nature of these allegations particularly striking, whatever the eventual outcome.

“Denied in full” — ITN’s statement on the claims brought by Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije.

Employment tribunals involving media personalities tend to pull back the curtain on working environments that, from the outside, look polished and professional. The reality, as several high-profile cases over recent years have shown, can be considerably messier.

Vanderpuije’s decision to pursue the claim through a tribunal rather than settle quietly suggests she’s prepared for a fight. These proceedings are public, the testimony is on record, and the reputational stakes for everyone involved are real.

Whether Walker’s appearance in the witness box helps clarify matters — or complicates them further — remains to be seen. But with broadcasting’s workplace culture under increasingly sharp scrutiny, this case feels like one the industry will be watching very closely indeed.