ITN denies claims as Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije tribunal set for 2026

ITN has denied Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije’s claims in full as her employment tribunal is set to open in London on 20 April 2026, putting allegations of bullying, discrimination and whistleblowing detriment inside one of Britain’s best-known commercial newsrooms before a public hearing.

Vanderpuije, who co-hosted Channel 5 News with Dan Walker for a year between 2022 and 2023, has brought claims including unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race and sex, breach of contract, and detriment or dismissal linked to whistleblowing rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The case is scheduled to be heard over four days, although one report said it may last five.

Walker is named as a respondent alongside ITN, ITN chief executive Rachel Corp and Paramount Global, which owns Channel 5. Vanderpuije left Channel 5 News in 2024, after her stint presenting alongside Walker on the ITN-produced programme.

ITN said the claim is “denied in full” and will be dealt with through the tribunal process. Walker is also said to strongly deny allegations of sexism, misogyny, racism and bullying, and one report said witness statements support his position. It is also understood that an internal investigation into the claims against Walker was not upheld and found no misconduct.

The dispute carries weight beyond the individuals involved because it tests how a newsroom that reports on power, accountability and workplace abuse responds when those questions are turned inward. Channel 5 News is a major commercial outlet, and the case places scrutiny on the culture inside ITN, the broadcaster behind the programme, as well as on how complaints are investigated when senior presenters are involved.

Walker joined Channel 5 News after leaving BBC Breakfast, and his arrival was part of a high-profile move to the ITN-produced evening bulletin. The tribunal will now examine a set of claims that reach into dismissal, workplace conduct and protected disclosure, with the outcome likely to resonate across broadcast journalism, where employers regularly cover misconduct elsewhere while facing their own standards of accountability.