Dan Walker shared a heartfelt message with BBC Breakfast viewers on Tuesday as he revealed his official leaving date after six years hosting the morning programme. The 45-year-old presenter announced last month that he would be stepping down from his role on BBC Breakfast in a move to join Channel 5 on 5 News.
During the BBC Breakfast show on Tuesday, May 3, Dan told his co-host Sally Nugent and viewers his last day at the BBC will be May 17. Dan has been a part of BBC Breakfast since 2016, but will now be making a move to Channel 5, where he'll replace Sian Williams as the lead anchor on 5 News.
Speaking to co-presenter Sally Nugent, who took over from Dan's previous breakfast co-host Louise Minchin, who left in September 2021, he said: "You know you asked me when I was going? Well I can tell you now officially... May 17 is my last day, so two weeks today. If you discount this one (shift) because we’re on it, it’s only six, six more three o’clockers and then I’m out of here.”
"That's not many shifts left is it? That's not many early alarm calls," Sally replied: "Is that slightly lovely to know you're going to get some more sleep?". But Dan replied saying that the decision to leave had also been “big” and “sad”, to which Sally replied, "Yes Dan, I know, it's ok we've talked about it a lot it's fine".
“The other thing to say is thank you to everybody who sent so many lovely messages," Dan added: "And one thing I have realised, because lots of people want to chat to you, don’t they, about this programme, because it means an awful lot to an awful lot of people, it’s reminded me how special this show is and how much everybody who watches it loves it. So thank you very much to everyone who’s come up and said some lovely things.”
Dan, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and also hosted Football Focus from 2009 to 2021, will be not only be the new anchor of 5 News but will also see him " fronting a range of brand-new non-news programming" for the broadcasting channel.
Taking to Twitter after making the announcement live on air, Dan posted: "So… my final day on #bbcbreakfast will be 2 weeks today! (May 17th). It still feels a little surreal but @sallynugenttv has promised to bake me a goodbye tart. Thank you for all the kind comments. You’re all lovely".
BBC Breakfast continues on BBC One from 6am.
