Walker Denied Court Chance as Bullying Claims Withdrawn

It was set to be the most sensational employment tribunal daytime television had ever seen.

With millions of pounds at stake, former News presenter Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije was to publicly accuse her former co-presenter, devout Christian , and her employers ITN and Channel 5 of sexism, misogyny against a black woman and bullying in the workplace.

But on day five of the hearing at the Tribunals Centre, Ms Vanderpuije, 47, yesterday withdrew all her allegations after reaching a settlement with the two TV companies.

As a result, none of the evidence from either side will be heard.

While the settlement Ms Vanderpuije will receive has not been disclosed, sources close to the case say that it will be 'significantly less' than the £4million demanded a fortnight ago by her lawyer, Jonathan Coad.

At one point they wanted £13million from ITN, the maker of Channel 5 News, and its parent company, Paramount.

The agreement was reached with no admission of liability from any of the parties.

Her payout will not include any of her 'very high' legal costs being paid by her former employers.

It is unclear whether she will be left with much after her legal costs are met, given that the action has being going on for at least two years and she is now on to her second lawyer.

Last night, Classic FM host Mr Walker wrote on Instagram: '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.

'Through all of this, I have always been concerned for the claimant's wellbeing, and that has not changed. I hope she finds peace.'

A source close to Mr Walker said that 'he would have liked his day in court'.

A spokesman for Ms Vanderpuije said: 'Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije can confirm that a mutual agreement has been reached with ITN and Channel 5 in respect of the matters subject to tribunal proceedings.

'Claudia-Liza fully withdraws her allegations relating to Dan Walker and does not intend to repeat or pursue them.'

Last night, those involved with the legal action were shocked by Ms Vanderpuije's decision to cave in after refusing to settle for so many months – especially for what has been described as 'such a low figure'.

It is understood there had been talks behind the scenes over certain claims and information that Ms Vanderpuije wanted struck out so they couldn't be reported.

Sources say she failed to block all these claims.

'It's very strange that Claudia-Liza settled like this,' said a source. 'She was determined to shame Channel 5, ITN and Dan.'

The Daily Mail has been told it had become evident that she was 'trying to smear' Mr Walker, a father of three who anchored BBC Breakfast and Football Focus during his career at the Beeb.

Sources associated with the case believe she was trying to damage Mr Walker's reputation after he was brought in from the BBC to join her on Channel 5 News, which she had hosted for three years.

Evidence was due to be shown that, initially, Ms Vanderpuije did not blame Mr Walker for her fallout with ITN and its chief executive Rachel Corp.

In fact, the presenters were on good terms until she was told she was being made redundant in autumn 2023. 'Claudia-Liza made out to Dan all along that he wasn't someone she was going after,' says a source close to the case.

'She wanted to go for lunch with him, made it clear before she left that it was nothing to do with him, that her issues were with Channel 5 and ITN.

'Claudia-Liza even made it clear to Dan that her issues with her employers had been active since before he joined, in fact they started in 2020, not long after she started.

'She would tell him that she had been struggling there and he was very supportive.

'Dan is a kind man who looks out for his colleagues' wellbeing, so to then all of a sudden be named as a respondent left him really quite stunned.

'There is a view amongst those who know and love Dan that Claudia-Liza dragged him into the case to up the profile. Suing Channel 5 and ITN isn't quite as sexy. Dan was happy for the hearing to play out and for the truth to come out because he denies everything being levelled at him.'

Mr Walker's legal team had submitted more than 50 character witness statements to the tribunal from Zoe Ball, his Classic FM colleague Myleene Klass and famous footballers, Olympians and BBC journalists.

In April 2024, Mr Walker was 'completely exonerated' following a workplace probe into 'serious misconduct'.

Sources familiar with the inquiry said there was a lack of evidence to support the claims and said former Strictly star Mr Walker fully co-operated. The probe related to Ms Vanderpuije's complaints against him, but none were upheld.

Ms Vanderpuije was also said to be furious that Mr Walker earned more than her when he joined Channel 5 News in 2022, although the broadcaster pointed out that he had a wider role at Channel 5.

Last night, ITN said: 'We continue to deny these claims in full, and we are glad this matter has been resolved.'

Channel 5 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.'