Dan Walker has received the backing of broadcaster Sue Barker as he is accused of sexism, misogyny and bullying by his former Channel 5 News co-star Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije. 

Walker will face former co-anchor Vanderpuije, 47, at a five-week employment tribunal hearing in London, which begins next week.

The 49-year-old is named as a respondent to Ms Vanderpuije's claims, along with ITN, which makes Channel 5 News, and Channel 5 owner Paramount.

The former BBC Breakfast host denies all the allegations.

Father-of-three and devout Christian Walker has gathered more than 50 character witness statements from footballers, Olympians, BBC journalists and presenters, and other colleagues. 

And now legendary broadcaster Sue Barker has now publicly backed her former BBC Sport colleague.

Speaking to The Sun, the former A Question of Sport host said: 'I don't feel I'm putting my head above the parapet speaking up for Dan. I know he'd do the same.

'I have sat next to him in production many times and he really is one of the nicest, most courteous and hard-working presenters I have broadcast with.

'When I read what was in the papers on Sunday, I was happy to contact him and give 100 per cent support. I told him to stay strong and that I would help in any way I could.'  

In April 2024, 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 former Strictly star Walker had co-operated fully.

It is understood this probe related to Ms Vanderpuije's complaints against him, but none were upheld.  

A source told The Mail on Sunday: 'Dan absolutely denies any sexism, misogyny, racism or bullying. It has been hanging over him for some years now.

'Nobody wants this but he will be there to tell the judge the truth.

'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.'

A new report this week claimed Vanderpuije circulated email exchanges when she was banned from the newsroom after lodging her complaint in 2024, but ultimately lost support from colleagues who have largely remained loyal to Walker.

The Times report that 'at one point the dispute became so heated that Vanderpuije was banned from the newsroom by ITN's chief executive, Rachel Corp.'

'Vanderpuije responded by circulating their exchange of emails to scores of her colleagues.' 

In February 2024 the newsreader was offered paid leave by ITN while they investigated her complaints and her redundancy consultation continued, The Times report continues.

'When she returned to her desk she was told to go home, 'as a duty of care to you and others involved'' an insider claimed, adding that 'any sympathy she may have garnered internally was lost when she named Dan Walker specifically in the tribunal.'

'Internally he really is regarded as a nice guy. He looks out for other colleagues and for younger staff. He is the antidote to some of the other starry presenters you see on TV. He is the beneficiary of Claudia-Liza being sidelined but it's a shame really that he has been named in this.'

A representative for Vanderpuije told Daily Mail: 'Claudia-Liza is constrained for legal reasons from saying anything further about her claims until trial when they will be set out by her barrister in full with supporting evidence. She looks forward to responding at that point to any criticisms made of her by the Respondents via the media.'

Representatives for Walker and ITN were previously contacted by Daily Mail for comment.

An ITN spokesperson said: 'This claim, which is denied in full, will be addressed through the tribunal process.' 

Ms Vanderpuije's claims come after she departed Channel 5 in 2024 after over five years presenting their news programme – the last 12 months with former BBC star Walker, 49, who joined in a huge coup for the channel in 2023.

The ITN insider told The Times that by bringing Dan in, 'it was clear that she would be number two and not get equal billing. She was automatically being sidelined. It's a familiar trait in TV news.'

Last Sunday, Ms Vanderpuije's lawyer Jonathan Coad, who represented disgraced BBC presenter Phillip Schofield, issued a statement on her behalf.

It read: '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.

'In her claims she alleges that ITN and Channel 5 have tried to cover up the racist culture at Channel 5 News which they have tolerated despite this breaching their statutory obligations.

'Claudia-Liza is constrained for legal reasons from saying anything further about her claims until the trial.'