Entertainment
Dan Walker says BBC ‘never told him what to say’ despite impartiality rules-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro
He doesn’t want to ‘throw his opinion’ at viewers.
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Dan Walker has insisted that, despite the BBC being known for its impartiality rules, he was never ‘told what to say’.
Dan, who left BBC Breakfast for Channel 5 News in June, said he’s never been keen on the idea of ‘throwing his opinion’ at viewers.
Chatting to Metro.co.uk and other press at the Pride of Britain Awards, Dan said: ‘When I was at the BBC, I was never told what to say or what not to say.
‘I think my job as a broadcaster is always to ask the difficult questions, but I’m not one of those presenters who’s gonna throw my opinion at you and say, “This is my opinion, watch my programme, because I’m going to shout it at you.”
‘I don’t think that’s the way to do it. For me, the way to do it is news, or presenting with a bit of feeling. You don’t have to smother everything you say in your opinion.
‘You can just say, what we’re going through at the minute is difficult and we’ll laugh with you if we need to laugh, or we’ll hold your hand if you need your hand to be held, we’ll put an arm round you if you need that, and we’ll tell you what’s going on in the world and how it’s going to affect you.’
Dan suited up for the Pride of Britain Awards (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
He added of the current state of the news: ‘My job is to report the news, not make it! I think politics has been a bit of a sitcom over the past few weeks and we just need our politicians to crack on, do their job properly and let Strictly and Pride of Britain provide headlines, just crack on and do the job – I think we’d all be happier.’
Dan confirmed his exit from the BBC earlier this year, saying of his move to Channel 5: ‘I can’t wait to get stuck into the daily news show, but I am also excited about making some great new TV for Channel 5.
‘I love their ideas and creativity and it’s rare to get an opportunity like this where paths and ambitions meet. The chance to do something different was too good to turn down.’
Earlier this week, Dan suited up for the The Pride of Britain Awards, which celebrate the nation’s unsung heroes, attending alongside Michael Sheen, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Mo Farah and the Lionesses.
The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards will air on ITV on October 27 at 8pm.
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