Dan Walker (broadcaster)

Daniel Meirion Walker was born on 19 March 1977 in Crawley, to an English father and Welsh mother.{{cite web |url= https://www.instagram.com/p/CbSbxJYqasM/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= | title= Dan Walker on Instagram: "Thank you for all the lovely birthday messages."|work= instagram|date= March 19, 2020 }}{{cite interview|url= http://www.johnsmedley.com/blog/2013/11/13/the-real-dan-walker/ |last=Walker |first=Dan |title= The Real Dan Walker |publisher=John Smedley |location=Matlock, Derbyshire |date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153559/http://www.johnsmedley.com/blog/2013/11/13/the-real-dan-walker/ |archive-date=14 July 2014}} He lived in Crawley with his parents, two sisters and a brother,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/22/dan-walker-looks-back-still-driven-by-same-things |first=Harriet |last= Gibsone |title= Dan Walker looks back: 'I am still driven by the same things as that kid in the bad cardigan' |work= theguardian.com |date=October 22, 2022}} where he attended Ifield Primary School, Three Bridges Middle School, and Hazelwick Secondary School.{{cite web |title= Dan Walker, My Crawley|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-gEIpRt6o |website = Crawley TV (Youtube)|date= 2015}}

To further his education, he moved to Sheffield to study, earning a BA (Hons) degree in History in 1998, plus MA degree in Journalism Studies in 1999, at the University of Sheffield.{{cite web |url= https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/our-alumni/notable-alumni |title= University of Sheffield Alumni |work= The University of Sheffield |year=2020}} He was later awarded an Honorary LittD in 2019.

In 1998, Walker's professional broadcasting career started with work experience at Sheffield's Hallam FM.{{cite web |url= https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/20/dan-walker-age-career-wife-takes-break-bbc-breakfast-7645721/#:~:text=Dan%20Walker%20is%2041%20years%20old%20and%20was,sports%20presenter%20and%20commentator%2C%20spending%20four%20years%20there. |title= Dan Walker age, career and wife as he takes a break from BBC Breakfast |work= metro.co.uk |first=Caroline|last= Westbrook |date= June 20, 2018}} In 1999, Walker moved to a full-time career with a four-year stint as a sports presenter and commentator for Manchester's Key 103.{{cite web |url= https://www.jla.co.uk/artist/dan-walker|title= Dan Walker Biography |work= jla.co.uk |year=2023}}

In 2015, in addition to his TV presenting work, Walker co-presented Afternoon Edition every Monday–Thursday on BBC Radio 5 Live until 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04kfzpy |title=Afternoon Edition |work=BBC Radio 5 live |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015}}

On 24 June 2023, Dan stood in for Aled Jones on Classic FM in his Saturday morning show from 10:00 to 13:00.

From 8 January 2024, Dan became the regular presenter of the weekday breakfast show on Classic FM.{{Cite web |first=Roy |last=Martin |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/01/dan-walker-signs-up-for-breakfast-on-classic-fm/ |title=Dan Walker signs up for breakfast on Classic FM |date=3 January 2024 |accessdate=3 January 2024 |publisher=Radio Today}}

In 2003, Walker moved into television, joining Granada Television in Manchester, as a commentator on the Football League Review show. In 2004, he started at the BBC for the regional news programme North West Tonight, where he was nominated for 'Nations and Regions Sports Presenter or Commentator' at the Royal Television Society Sports Awards in 2005.{{cite web |url= https://rts.org.uk/award/television-sport-awards-2005 |title= RTS Television Sports Awards 2005 |work= rts.org.uk |date=May 31, 2006}}

In 2006, Walker started working in London, in 2008, his first moment presenting on national television being an interview on Henman Hill at 2008 Wimbledon Championships, when Andy Murray was playing Richard Gasquet. He has since covered The Open, Aintree, Ascot and The Derby at Epsom as well as the Six Nations.

In August 2009, Walker took over from Manish Bhasin as the presenter of the BBC's Football Focus,{{cite web|url= https://punditarena.com/football/jeff-simon/dan-walker-football-focus-alex-scott/ |first= Jeff |last= Simon|title= Alex Scott reportedly set to take over from Dan Walker as host of BBC's Football Focus|publisher= bbc.co.uk |date= April 14, 2021}} a slot he held for 12 years, before eventually being succeeded by Alex Scott in 2021.

Walker was part of the BBC Sport team covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup from the England team base.{{cite web|url= http://wscdn.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/04_april/22/worldcup.shtml |title=BBC Press Release April 2010 |publisher= bbc.co.uk |date=22 April 2010}}

On 26 November 2011, Gary Speed appeared as a guest on Football Focus with Walker. The two men spent a total of about four hours with each other on the day. Walker said of Speed: "I always found him to be kind, funny, intelligent and insightful. I found him to be a top bloke and really enjoyed his company." The following morning on Sunday 27 November 2011, Walker received the news{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2011/11/gary_speed_leaves_a_huge_whole.html |title=Gary Speed leaves a huge hole in football |first=Dan |last=Walker |work=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 February 2021}} that Speed had died by suicide {{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16760925 |title= Gary Speed narrative verdict after wife tells inquest of marriage strain |work=BBC News |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=2 February 2021}} at his house in Cheshire. Walker said that he was "stunned" by Speed's death and that he was "incredibly saddened".{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15910712 |title=Football Focus's Dan Walker saddened |work=BBC Sport|date=27 November 2011 }} He had known Speed for quite a long time and had played football with him in a charity match two months earlier. In March 2012, Walker said that he was "staggered by the depth of feeling and shock" on the Sunday when Speed's death was announced.{{cite web|author=Walker, Dan |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2012/03/cardiff_in_full_voice_to_comme.html |title=Cardiff in full voice to commemorate Gary Speed |work=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2012 |access-date=29 December 2012}}

For the 2012 London Olympics, Walker presented a nightly post-midnight round-up of the day's events.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-15 |title=London 2012 Olympics: BBC presenters and commentary teams |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18070768 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} At the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Walker presented coverage of the evening session for BBC Three.{{Cite web |title=Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}} For the Rio 2016 Games, Walker took on a similar role, presenting action throughout the evening and night live from the beach on BBC Four.{{Cite web |title=Rio 2016 on the BBC - TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rio/tv/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}} For the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Walker co-hosted Olympic Breakfast with Sam Quek each morning.{{Cite web |title=Tokyo 2020 on the BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/tokyo-2020/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}

File:Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 (34968568976).jpg at the 2017 FA Cup Final]]

In 2016, Walker replaced Bill Turnbull as presenter of BBC Breakfast. His first show aired on 29 February and he presented the programme from Monday to Wednesday with Louise Minchin until mid-2021, and with Sally Nugent from late 2021 onwards. Walker presented the 'Clash of the Titans' segment of the Sport Relief telethon.

In January 2019, Walker had a chance meeting with Tony Foulds, in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, where Foulds was voluntarily maintaining the "Mi Amigo" memorial. Foulds, then aged eight, was in Endcliffe Park when a USAAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber crashed in the park in February 1944; the crash killed all ten men on board.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-47323045|title=Sheffield bomber crash: Flypast on 75th anniversary|date=22 February 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=22 February 2019}}

After the meeting, Walker started a campaign on social media to organise a flypast at the park. The campaign was successful, and the flypast took place on 22 February 2019, the 75th anniversary of the crash. The event was broadcast nationally and thousands of people, including the families of the airmen involved in the crash, attended the flypast.

In November 2020, Walker was confirmed as the new host of The NFL Show following previous host Mark Chapman's decision to step down.{{Cite web|last=TVZone|date=18 November 2020|title=Mark Chapman steps down from the NFL Show as Dan Walker is announced as replacement|url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/mark-chapman-steps-down-from-the-nfl-show-as-dan-walker-is-announced-as-replacement|access-date=19 November 2020|website=TVZoneUK|language=en}}

Walker left Football Focus after 12 years on 22 May 2021;{{cite web|last=Walker|first=Dan|date=22 May 2021|title=Football Focus: Dan Walker signs off as host for the last time|access-date=22 May 2021|website=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/57212806|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522190426/https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/57212806|archive-date=22 May 2021|url-status=live}} he continued as a presenter on BBC Breakfast and BBC Sport.{{cite news|title=Dan Walker: Football Focus presenter to leave at end of season|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56673359|date=8 April 2021|access-date=9 April 2021|work=BBC Sport}}

On 10 August 2021, it was announced he would be competing in the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/10/strictly-come-dancing-2021-bbc-breakfasts-dan-walker-on-line-up-15066106/|title=Strictly Come Dancing 2021: BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker confirmed for new series|date=10 August 2021|website=Metro}} He was paired with the Ukrainian-Slovenian professional Nadiya Bychkova. They were eliminated in week 11, coming 5th.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/e08c14cb-4f8b-45b7-a7e5-aa1bd779cf8d|title= Dan and Nadiya leave Strictly in the Quarter Final |work=bbc.co.uk |date=5 December 2021}}

In September 2021, Walker was one of many offering tributes to his co-presenter Louise Minchin who left BBC Breakfast after 20 years of working on the programme.{{Cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57397820 |title= Louise Minchin to leave BBC Breakfast after 20 years |date= June 8, 2021|work=bbc.co.uk}}

On 4 April 2022, Walker announced, via a Twitter video, that he would be leaving the BBC to move to Channel 5.{{Cite tweet|user=mrdanwalker|last=Walker|first=Dan|number=1511005516251766797|title=Big decision for me to leave Breakfast but I'm really excited to join 5 News & Channel 5.|date=4 April 2022|access-date=4 April 2022}} On 6 June 2022, Walker made his Channel 5 news debut, reporting live from 10 Downing Street when prime minister Boris Johnson survived a no confidence vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/dan-walkers-channel-5-debut-24162633|title=Dan Walker's Channel 5 debut attracts a massive increase in viewers|website=walesonline.co.uk|date=7 June 2022 |access-date=9 June 2022}}

In December 2022, Walker took part in and won, an episode of the quiz show The Weakest Link, with all contestants having previously been involved in Strictly Come Dancing.{{Cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqD1fUAXoVg |title=The Weakest Link - S02E01, 17.12.2022 – Strictly Special |work=Daniil (Youtube) |date=December 22, 2022}}

In 2023 Vanished began on Channel 5 with Walker as presenter.

Walker is an active patron of several charities including the Sheffield Children's Hospital charity,{{cite news|title=Jess at City Hall for Children's Hospital charity |url=http://www.sheffieldnewsandsport.com/2012/11/20/jess/ |work=Sheffield News & Sport |access-date=1 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052207/http://www.sheffieldnewsandsport.com/2012/11/20/jess/ |archive-date=3 December 2013}} and attended an event for the cause in 2012, at Sheffield City Hall, alongside fellow University of Sheffield Alumna Jessica Ennis-Hill.

In 2019, Walker climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief with a number of other celebrities, including Dani Dyer, Ed Balls, Shirley Ballas, Alexander Armstrong and Anita Rani.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/comic-relief-kilimanjaro-team-celebrity-climb-a4090566.html |first= Georgia |last= Chambers |title= Kilimanjaro Comic Relief climb 2019: Celebrity team, TV channel and all you need to know |work=standard.co.uk |date=March 13, 2019}}

Walker lives in Fulwood, Sheffield.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/mrdanwalker/status/1431634107767926790 |title=Tweet |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-07 |title=Take a look inside Dan Walker's Sheffield cafe after his shock announcement |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/dan-walker-inside-the-tv-and-radio-stars-sheffield-cafe-4545358 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=The Star |language=en}} He has been married to Sarah since 2001. The couple met at Sheffield University and they have three children, two daughters and a son.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-04|title=BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker makes rare admission about wife Sarah|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20201104100231/bbc-breakfast-dan-walker-wife-marriage/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=HELLO!|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker makes cheeky intimate quip about wife Sarah|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210719117789/bbc-breakfast-dan-walker-intimate-quip-wife-sarah/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=HELLO!|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Honebeek|first=Talya|date=2021-10-01|title=Strictly Come Dancing star Dan Walker's wife, religion and BBC salary|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/who-dan-walker-strictly-come-21738478|access-date=2021-10-08|work=Birmingham Live|language=en}} He supports Crawley Town Football Club.{{Cite web|title=Nuts, Crawley trip ends in disappointment |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2009/12/nuts_crawley_trip_ends_in_disa.html|access-date=8 October 2021|work=BBC Sport|last=Walker|first=Dan|date=8 December 2009|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Bizarre weekend as Crawley go for glory|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2011/02/i_often_get_asked_to.html|access-date=8 October 2021|work=BBC Sport|last=Walker|first=Dan|date=24 February 2011|language=en}}

He is a practising Christian{{cite web |url=http://www.gracemagazine.org.uk/articles/historical/walker.htm |title=Dan Walker – an interview |publisher=Gracemagazine.org.uk |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414132418/http://www.gracemagazine.org.uk/articles/historical/walker.htm |archive-date=14 April 2012}}{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Marcus|title=Dan Walker: My Christian faith is what makes me tick|url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/dan-walker-my-christian-faith-is-what-makes-me-tick/4006.article|date=28 March 2021|access-date=8 October 2021|website=Premier Christianity|language=en}} who has maintained his position not to work on Sunday throughout his career, although he comments on twitter on Sundays.{{cite web|url=http://www.e-n.org.uk/p-4700-Sport-&-Sundays.htm |title=Sport & Sundays |publisher=E-n.org.uk |access-date=17 November 2011}}

In February 2023, Walker was taken to hospital after being in a collision with a car while cycling in Sheffield.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-64704132|title=Dan Walker: TV presenter injured in bicycle crash|date=20 February 2023|work=BBC News}} He later said that wearing a helmet saved his life.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-64722710|title=Dan Walker bike accident: Helmet saved my life, says TV star|date=21 February 2023|work=BBC News}}

• Dan Walker's Football Thronkersaurus: Football's Finest Tales (Simon & Schuster, 2014) {{ISBN|978-1471136290}}
• Magic, Mud and Maradona: Cup Football's Finest Tales (Simon & Schuster, 2016) {{ISBN|978-1471136313}}
• Remarkable People: Extraordinary Stories of Everyday Lives (Headline, 2021) {{ISBN|978-1472278890}}
• Standing on the Shoulders: Incredible Heroes and How They Inspire Us (Headline, 2022) {{ISBN|978-1472291271}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|3692874}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014431/http://www.lordsday.co.uk/Dan%20Walker.htm Dan Walker Day One Magazine (2008)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120414132418/http://www.gracemagazine.org.uk/articles/historical/walker.htm Dan Walker Grace Magazine (2002)]
• [http://www.danwalker.tv/ Dan Walker official website]
• [https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/dan-walker/ Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker on Classic FM]

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Category:1977 births

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield

Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists

Category:BBC North West newsreaders and journalists

Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters

Category:Christian Young Earth creationists

Category:English Christians

Category:English people of Welsh descent

Category:English sports journalists

Category:English television presenters

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Hazelwick School

Category:People from Crawley

Category:Television personalities from West Sussex