Dan Walker To Helm BBC Breakfast… And Gets To Plot His Work Schedule Around GOD

The Big Lebowski’s Walter Sobchak refused to roll on the Sabbath – and Football Focus anchor Dan Walker is following in his footsteps.

Dan is to replace Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast while continuing with his sport presenting. Just don’t ask him to work Sundays.

Christian Dan, 38, is such a devoted believer he has a deal with BBC bosses he’ll never work the Sabbath.

He’s taking over the corporation’s breakfast show at the end of the month when Bill, 60, will leave following 15 years on the show.

Married dad-of-three Dan will co-present with Louise Minchin Mondays to Wednesdays.

Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty will continue to present the show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

Dan said he was “thrilled” with the role, and he doesn’t mind getting up at 3.30am.

He added: “I have watched the show avidly over the years and am even looking forward to setting my alarm clock and doing what I can to make it even more successful.

“It is an honour to be given this opportunity and to follow in the footsteps of someone like Bill Turnbull. The man has significant shoes to fill, so I hope I can do as good a job as he did waking up the nation.”

Out with the old… Bill Turnbull is quitting BBC Breakfast after 15 years

Son of a Baptist preacher Dan turned down invitations from youth football teams as a youngster because they played matches on Sundays.

And he became a devout believer aged 12 after a preacher told him about hell. He said in 2010: “I knew I was offending God with the way I was acting and the life I was living, and the prospect of going to hell terrified me.”

Initially his refusal to work Sundays made it hard for him to find work as a sports presenter but he stuck with it and was eventually hired by the BBC

Dan currently hosts a show on BBC Radio 5 Live, Afternoon Edition, but he will be familiar to millions of viewers as the face of BBC1’s Football Focus for the last seven years.

He has also fronted Match of the Day and Final Score.

Dan started began his career on Hallam FM in Sheffield then joined Granada TV and went on to join the corporation on regional show BBC North West Tonight before moving to BBC Sport.