DAN Walker has taken a swipe at the BBC just days before starting his new job at Channel 5.
The 45-year-old – who quit his role on BBC Breakfast last month – slammed his old bosses for their coverage on the death of Prince Philip last year.
The Beeb received 110,000 complaints about its coverage on the day of his death, after it cleared its schedules and put mirrored coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and its News Channel.
Dan discussed his opinions on the situation earlier this week on BBC Radio 4 ‘s The Media Show.
He thinks that there should have been a “balance” because you can’t “force grief upon a nation”.
Dan said: “You can report on it but you can’t make everybody feel the same way.
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“Some people don’t feel that way about the Royal Family. I think that’s important.”
The Duke of Edinburgh died aged 99 on April 9 2021.
The BBC went on to defend its ‘excessive’ coverage of his death as it was a “significant event which generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally”.
This weekend also marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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It comes after Dan confirmed when he’ll start his Channel 5 show.
He made the announcement on the Jeremy Vine Show earlier this week – and will be back on our screens this coming Monday at 5pm on 5 News alongside Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije.
He has replaced Dr Sian Williams as lead anchor from 2016.
Dan’s role will also include fronting a range of brand-new non-news programming for Channel 5.
The presenter announced last month that he was leaving the BBC for a new role at Channel 5.
In a video shared on Twitter, Dan said it was a “massive decision” to leave BBC Breakfast, but moving to Channel 5 will bring “bigger opportunities.”
He said: “I have a little bit of news for you. In the next few weeks, I’m going to be leaving BBC Breakfast and moving to 5 News and to Channel 5.
“But Channel 5 came with big ambitions, with big plans and I don’t think opportunities like this come around very often and I can’t wait.
“I’ve also had the incredible privilege of working on some iconic programmes over the last few years, both at the BBC and elsewhere.
“And what I love about this deal is I not only get to present the news, but also host a whole range of new programmes right across the channel.”
His last day on BBC Breakfast was Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
5 News with Dan Walker starts Monday, 6 June at 5pm on Channel 5
