Former Channel 5 News presenter Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije has alleged that the show has a “toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying” after accusing co-star Dan Walker of the latter.
It was reported on Sunday (12 April) that Walker – who joined 5 News in 2022 after leaving BBC Breakfast – would be appearing at an employment tribunal this month over bullying allegations made by Vanderpuije. The presenters co-hosted 5 News together until 2024, when Vanderpuije left the channel after five years.
Channel 5 brought in investigators in 2024 after Walker was the subject of a “multi-pronged” complaint from a colleague, however they found that there had been “a lack of evidence to support allegations”.
Issuing a statement on Vanderpuije’s behalf, her lawyer Jonathan Coad said she’s alleging that ITN, which produces the show, and Channel 5 “tried to over up the racist culture” on the show.
He told the Daily Mail: “Claudia-Liza claims that she was the victim of a sham redundancy because as a whistleblower she made protected disclosures alleging that a toxic culture of racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying existed in the Channel 5 Newsroom, and that its editorial content reflected its racist culture.
He added: “Claudia-Liza is constrained for legal reasons from saying anything further about her claims until the trial.”
According to the publication, Walker denies all the allegations.
The Independent has reached out to Vanderpuije, Walker and ITN for comment.
A source told The Mail on Sunday that Walker “absolutely denies any sexism, misogyny, racism or bullying” and that it has been “hanging over him for some years now”. They added: “He will be at London Central tribunal later this month. Nobody wants this but he will be there to tell the judge the truth.
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“There will be tons of witness statements, which will talk to Dan’s character. He has been absolutely stunned with the amount of people willing to support him. He has been stunned and actually very upset to be accused of such things.”
Walker was hit by a “multi-pronged complaint” in 2024, resulting in Channel 5 conducting an investigation. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the findings, with independent investigators citing “a lack of evidence to support allegations”.
A Channel 5 spokesperson said at the time that “none” of the claims had been upheld, while Walker later said in an interview with The Telegraph that after a full investigation, he was “entirely vindicated by an independent inquiry”.
Vanderpuije joined Channel 5 in 2018, hosting 5 News Tonight, 5 News at 5 and occasionally The Wright Stuff.
She spent one year presenting alongside Walker before leaving in 2024. Shortly after her exit, Vanderpuije compared her situation to that of Blake Lively – who accused her This Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and causing her “severe emotional distress” in 2024.
Vanderpuije posted a quote from Lively, who said: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
The ex 5 News presenter added: “Never in my wildest nightmares did I think I would be living the same life, speaking EXACTLY the same words as a Hollywood actress.
“It is deeply upsetting to see how women are silenced and our names smeared simply because we speak out protecting others and calling out wrongdoing.”
