Dan Walker says his habit of waking early for 5 News is ‘annoying’ his family

Dan Walker says his early starts for his presenting job on 5 News are ‘annoying my wife and family’.

The broadcaster, 45, began presenting 5 News on Channel 5 earlier this month alongside Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, 43, after anchoring the BBC breakfast show for six years when he rose at 3am.

While he gets more of a lie in today, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Dan admits he’s still an early riser, joking on Monday that he recently irritated his wife Sarah by ‘cleaning the garage out at 6 o’clock in the morning’.

During an appearance on Loose Women, he said: ‘I’m still waking up and getting up quite early but my old life used to be 3 o’clock alarm call, so I’m still getting up at 5 o’clock in the morning.

‘I think I’m annoying my wife and family at the minute because I find I’ve got so much more energy. I was cleaning the garage out at 6 o’clock in the morning.

‘I never minded getting up at three because I felt I was getting a head start on everybody else so I’ve always got up early, I’ve never really slept that much.

Professional: The broadcaster began presenting 5 News earlier this month alongside Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, 43, after anchoring BBC breakfast when he rose at 3am

‘Once I get up, I just crack on.’

It comes after Dan said getting up at three in the morning each day while working on BBC Breakfast took a toll on his mind and body. 

Dan insisted he did not change jobs for financial reasons but he simply thought it was time to move on after anchoring for the last six years alongside Louise Minchin and then Sally Nugent, with the screen star managing on just four hours sleep a night for a long time.  

Moving on: Dan previously said getting up at three in the morning each day while working on BBC Breakfast took a toll on his mind and body

He told the Mirror the week before starting at Channel 5: ‘I think getting up at three o’clock in the morning for six and a half years, it definitely does sort of take its toll on your brain and your body.

‘So even though I’ve managed to cope with four hours of sleep for a long time, I think I’m looking forward to a more regular sleeping and waking pattern.

‘I’m going to stay overnight a couple of nights in London and do four days-a-week but we will work it out and hopefully I’ll get to spend more time with my family. They are being very flexible.’

Celebrations: Dan celebrated with a huge BBC Breakfast leaving do last month, filled with his friends and family

Dan hosts 5 News alongside Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije who he had no newsroom run-through with as he wanted things to happen organically.

‘I went in and had a look around the studio and I’m quite keen to have a bit of movement involved in it,’ he explained.

‘But I didn’t really want to do a run through because I don’t really like rehearsing too much.’

Meanwhile, Dan, who has reportedly been given a £1.5million salary for his new role, insisted he would not be taking on a presenting style similar to Piers Morgan’s, saying he would not give his opinion too much on screen.

Dan left BBC Breakfast this month after six years at the helm, celebrating with a huge leaving do filled with his friends and family.

Famous friends: He took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps from the night, and a string of selfies with some famous faces (Naga Munchetty pictured)

The broadcaster took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps from the night, and a string of selfies with some famous faces.

He also posed alongside a life-size cardboard cutout of himself, quipping: ‘Anybody want a cardboard cutout which is slightly taller than my human form?’

He beamed widely as he posed for a photo with Naga Munchetty, who sported a classic red lip, and another with a glamorous looking Sally Nugent.

Captioning the shots, he gushed: ‘What a wonderful evening with friends and family at my leaving do tonight.

‘So many surprises and just so much fun being together with so many gorgeous humans.

‘Thanks to everyone who came. I will miss you all.’

Seeing double! He also posed alongside a life-size cardboard cutout of himself, quipping: ‘Anybody want a cardboard cutout which is slightly taller than my human form?’