Dan Walker to step down as host of BBC Football Focus after 12 years at the helm

Dan Walker presents The Integrity and Impact Award founded by Dow Jones Intelligence during the BT Sport Industry Awards 2019 (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sport Industry Group)Dan Walker presents The Integrity and Impact Award founded by Dow Jones Intelligence during the BT Sport Industry Awards 2019 (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sport Industry Group)
Dan Walker presents The Integrity and Impact Award founded by Dow Jones Intelligence during the BT Sport Industry Awards 2019 (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sport Industry Group)

Dan Walker has announced he is stepping down as host of the BBC's Football Focus.

The presenter, who also fronts BBC Breakfast, has been at the helm for 12 years after joining the show at the start of the 2009-10 season.

His last show will be on Saturday May 22 - which coincides with the end of the current Premier League season.

Walker will continue to present BBC Breakfast and for BBC Sport, including at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.

What Dan Walker said

Walker said: "It has been an amazing 12 years and I have loved every second of it.

"I am so proud of the job we've done, the changes we've made and issues we've looked at while the football landscape changed immeasurably.

"I'd like to say thank you to the amazing team at Focus who put so much into the show each week and thank you to the audience for tuning in every Saturday."

‘He is a top-class broadcaster’

Philip Bernie, head of TV at BBC Sport, said: "Dan has been exceptional as presenter of Football Focus for the last 12 years.

"He is a top-class broadcaster who has brought authority, wit and fun to the show, always working so well with such warmth with the guests on the show.

"We are extremely grateful for all he has given to Focus, and will continue to enjoy watching him on the BBC's sport output as well as the wider BBC."

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