Dan Walker Slams Ex-Co-Star, Seeks Forgiveness

He spent three years living under a cloud as he fought to prove his innocence after being named in a sexism and bullying tribunal by a former colleague.

And now has lambasted fellow TV presenter Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije, who he is still 'working towards' forgiving, and whose allegations had 'no truth' to them, he claims. 

The presenter, 49, who is vocal about his Christianity, spoke for the first time about his 'terrible' three years and his desire to now 'move on' with his life.

'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,' he exclusively told the Daily Mail.

'If there's no truth, you haven't got any witnesses, and there's no evidence to back you up.'

Walker, who was gearing up to fight his case in court back in April, said he 'still can't believe it got to the point that it did get to' but is now 'trying to move on with my life.'

He said that, while 'it's been a terrible three years' he feels overwhelmed and 'really privileged' to have had 'well over 100 people' write glowing character references for him.

'I didn't even have to ask for character references,' he said.

'I had well over 100 people who wrote them anyway over a few days and sent them to me, I didn't even send them all in.

'I sent about 40, [but] there were hundreds I could have sent in which will mean a lot to me until the day I die.'

Despite the sensational accusations of misogyny, racism, and bullying levelled against him by Ms Vanderpuije, he said he knows 'what I'm like', as does everyone else in the 'industry.'

'It's not nice when you're going through that and I'm trying to find sort of, I feel like I'm back to where I am and I've got my brain space back,' he said.

'It was incredibly stressful, but my overwhelming emotion is grateful that it's over.'

The former BBC Breakfast star said he was thankful that 'everyone knew what was going on and why what was happening happened' and that Channel 5 had been 'incredibly' supportive.

'I take my faith very seriously and I think I believe fundamentally in forgiveness and I'm working towards it,' he said.

'I don't sleep anyway but it will take me some time to get to forgiveness.'