Dan Walker has said it will 'take some time' to forgive his former TV co-star Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, who accused him of bullying and sexism. The Channel 5 presenter, 49, admitted he is still 'working towards' forgiving her, reiterating that the claims were untrue.
Walker speaks about the impact of the allegations
Walker said the past three years have been difficult, but he is eager to move on. He told the Mail: 'I'm glad it's over and I'm not sure what I can or can't say, but if you're going to accuse somebody of that sort of thing it's very important there's an element of truth to it. If there's no truth, you haven't got any witnesses, and there's no evidence to back you up.'
He thanked those who stood by him, noting that over 100 people were ready to provide character references, though these were not ultimately needed. His overriding emotion, he said, is gratitude that the matter is concluded.
Faith and forgiveness
Walker, a Christian, said his faith teaches the importance of forgiveness, but added: 'This one will take me some time.' He previously expressed a desire to go to tribunal to clear his name, but the case was settled out of court. In a statement after the settlement in April, he said: 'Channel 5 and ITN have reached an agreement with the claimant. 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 added: 'Through all of this, I have always been concerned for the claimant’s wellbeing, and that has not changed. I hope she finds peace.'
Gratitude for support
Walker thanked his family, friends, legal team, and colleagues at 5 News and Classic FM for their support. The statement was shared on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
