Dan Walker has a stern message for his critics after being told his shoes were ‘dropping the standard’ of Channel 5 News.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter, 47, returned from the Easter break and the spring in his step was swiftly taken out by trolls who have a limited imagination when it comes to the footwear of a newsreader.
Dan was wearing a pair of Oliver Sweeney trainers, which would fall absolutely under ‘smart footwear’, should anyone actually care.
To his 302,000 followers on Instagram, Dan wrote: So… a few viewers got in contact about my shoes on @c5news tonight.
‘Personally, I think there are far more important things going on in the world and I don’t believe wearing these counts as a “disgrace” or the dropping of “standards”.
‘They aren’t trainers and I think they are smart and I love them. What do you think?’
Dan’s fans were largely in his corner. James Latham replied: ‘Crikey…it’s Channel 5 News, not the State Opening of Parliament! Perspective people…’
Hen_c defended ‘excellent footwear’ while skeggo9 praised the divisive shoes but after doing some research did note: ‘I like them although they are described as trainers on their website.’
The general consensus though was: ‘People need to get a grip!’
The strange backlash comes after Dan was ‘completely exonerated’ following allegations of ‘serious misconduct’ by an unnamed colleague.
Dan joined Channel 5 News after leaving BBC Breakfast in April 2022.
He revealed earlier this year how he used to cry in the toilets at the BBC studios behind the scenes of the show.
Dan Walker’s 5 News at 5 airs, as the title suggests, at 5pm on Channel 5.
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