Dan Walker has revealed the insulting message he got when he joined BBC Breakfast from one viewer who was a big Bill Turnbull fan. The presenter who yesterday revealed he was leaving to join Channel 5 and spoke about his decision on BBC Breakfast this morning with co-presenter Sally Nugent.
He said: “I’ve had so many lovely messages from BBC Breakfast viewers and loads of other people as well. “When I first started this job I got a brilliant email from somebody who said ‘you’re no good, you’ll never fill Bill Turnbull’s shoes’.
“And then he said ‘we are massive BBC Breakfast viewers and in fact we’ve got a new dog and we’ve named him after you. He’s called idiot’.” To which Sally added: “Morning!” to the viewer with a wave.
Read more: BBC responds after Dan Walker quits Breakfast to join Channel 5 News
Dan added: “The same person did write and email yesterday to say ‘I’m very glad that you’re going.’ So there’s at least one person out there who is very happy.” Sally said: “But the overwhelming majority of people are actually really quite sad and happy for you as you’re moving onto something really exciting.”
The TV star, who has hosted BBC Breakfast since 2016, is leaving to join 5 News at Channel 5, replacing Sian Williams. He also revealed on BBC Breakfast that as well as news he would get the chance to make other different shows.
In a video message on Twitter, Walker said it was a “massive decision” because he loves the breakfast show but added it was a rare opportunity and he “can’t wait”. The announcement marks the latest departure for the BBC following the loss of Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis and former North American editor Jon Sopel.
In February, the pair announced they will be hosting a new podcast for Global Player, a radio show together on LBC, and provide commentary and analysis for the station’s website. Maitlis joined the BBC in 2001 and has presented Newsnight since 2006, winning a Royal Television Society award for her interview with Prince Andrew in 2019, while Sopel joined the broadcaster in 1983.
Similarly in November last year, veteran journalist Andrew Marr announced he was moving to Global after 21 years at the BBC. Marr joined the corporation in May 2000 as political editor and later spent 16 years at the helm of his own Sunday morning show.
The 62-year-old said he was moving to Global as it offered him a “new freedom” to do “fast-paced, very regular political journalism on LBC with no filter”. In February 2020, former deputy political editor John Pienaar announced he was leaving the BBC to join Times Radio after nearly three decades.
Later that year, the Andrew Neil Show was one of the casualties of the BBC cuts, following the broadcaster’s 2016 announcement that it needed to save £800 million, with around £80 million of that figure coming from news. Neil later announced he was to be the face and chairman of GB News, signalling the end of his relationship with the BBC, where he has been one of the most respected political interviewers.
The former Sunday Times editor has since stepped down from GB News and announced he will be hosting a new Sunday night political show for Channel 4. A BBC source said: “People come, people go, but we have lots of existing talent and new and emerging stars and there is always a natural point where people move on.”
