Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije has withdrawn all allegations against her former Channel 5 News co-host Dan Walker after reaching a “mutual agreement” with the broadcaster and ITN. The presenter, who co-hosted a show with Walker for a year between 2022 and 2023, had filed claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment on grounds of race and sex, and breach of contract.
Last week, Vanderpuije’s lawyer said her case centred on claims that she was the victim of a “sham redundancy” because, as a whistleblower, she had made protected disclosures alleging a “toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying” in the Channel 5 newsroom, and that its editorial content reflected that culture. Walker had reportedly been prepared to present more than 50 character witness statements, including from sports stars, BBC journalists and other colleagues.
On Friday, a statement from Vanderpuije’s lawyers confirmed that a mutual agreement had been reached with ITN and Channel 5. It said: “Claudia-Liza fully withdraws her allegations relating to Dan Walker and does not intend to repeat or pursue them.” A Channel 5 spokesperson said: “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made and are pleased that this matter has been resolved and that all the allegations relating to Dan Walker have been withdrawn.” An ITN spokesperson added: “We continue to deny these claims in full, and we are glad this matter has been resolved.”
Walker, 49, a former BBC Breakfast host and Strictly Come Dancing contestant, had been listed as a respondent in the claims alongside Channel 5, ITN, ITN chief executive Rachel Corp, and Paramount Global, which owns Channel 5. He had been due to appear at an employment tribunal beginning on Monday, but on Friday it was confirmed that an agreement had been reached. In a minute-long hearing, Employment Judge Emma Webster dismissed all the claims.
Vanderpuije, 47, who left Channel 5 News in 2024, had also filed a claim of suffering a detriment or dismissal due to exercising rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, commonly known as whistleblowing. In a statement posted on Instagram, Walker said he hoped Vanderpuije “finds peace”. He wrote: “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. Through all of this, I have always been concerned for the claimant’s wellbeing, and that has not changed. I hope she finds peace.”
