Dan Walker

13 years ago ❤️ Maybe today is a right time to reach out to that friend or text that mate who you think might be struggling. #GarySpeed

Thank you for watching ❤️ Thank you @BBCSport for asking me to be part of this #FootballFocus

@ianfinchtv @Remembering_Rik @RikScrapbook It was always lovely to work with you Finchy. I trust you still have the unbroadcastable out-takes from that one 😂😂😂

Sorry to see Football Focus go. Worked on it on and off for the best part of 27 years (old bugger) including two full years as series director in the early Dan Walker days. Good times. (that’s not me with Dan by the way…)

I will never forget Gary Speed’s last show. That is a programme I still think about all the time. I know his death had a profound effect on so many people and it remains a tragic and important milestone in how we talk about mental health. That’s one of the things Focus was always able to do. We never shied away from the serious stuff and I think the viewers knew and appreciated that. I loved our outside broadcast from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan too. We dreamed big and pulled it off and even the Prime Minister at the time (David Cameron) flew in to be part of the show! I remember speaking to loads of Afghan soldiers out there who hardly spoke any English but knew all the players in the Premier League. It was a reminder of the power of football to unite us all - even in warzone. I travelled out there with Kevin Kilbane and Big John Hartson and that will remain one of the best programs we ever worked on. So, as I think about the last ever Football Focus this weekend, I am sad that it’s over but incredibly thankful to be part of a programme that still means so much to so many.

This weekend sees the last ever episode of Football Focus broadcast on the BBC. One of my colleagues sent me this earlier this week. A montage of some of the stuff we did on the show and it brought back so many lovely memories ❤️ I can tell you exact spot where I was standing on the old runway at Turnberry golf club when I got the call to see if I wanted to become the presenter of Football Focus. I was covering The Open in 2009 and it was one of the best conversations I have ever had. For a kid who had grown up watching the show every week with my dad it was an amazing privilege to know that I would be hosting a programme which had always been such a big part of my weekend. I called my dad immediately and he was just as pleased as I was. When the news was announced I had a phone call from the one and only Bob Wilson. He was so warm and encouraging, as he always is, and said “Dan, you are gonna love this job. There is nothing like it… make sure you take care of it”. I hope I did. As a former custodian of the couch, Bob knew how special it was and I felt the same way when I handed over the reins to the brilliant Alex Scott when I left Focus after 12 seasons. People still talk to me about the show all the time. Focus is stitched into my life and I know there are still so many fans who really care about it which is why it’s such a crazy decision to get rid of it. Move it to Saturday morning, tinker with the format but, in a world where there is such a premium on reliable and trusted brands, why would you throw away over 50 years of hard work and history? It carries weight. I remember interviewing Pele years ago and I told him I was from Football Focus and he said “I know all about Football Focus” with a big smile. When we were filming a show about the history of Barcelona at the Nou Camp we were about to sit down to talk to Eusebio and Johan Cryuff (I had to pinch myself about that one) and Sir Bobby Charlton walked over and said to them, “You can tell this is important gentlemen… the team from Football Focus are here”. When I called Noel Gallagher to talk about an idea we had to get him to interview Mario Ballotelli at Manchester City he rearranged his world tour to be there. Obviously Balotelli was a draw but Noel said “I’d do anything for Football Focus”. When I interviewed Jurgen Klopp in the tearoom at Exeter City before an FA cup tie the lovely ladies serving brews were wedged into the corner while we spoke. I introduced them to Mr Klopp afterwards and he apologised for stealing their space; “Don’t worry about that” they said. “We’ve just been on Football Focus! Wait until we tell the family about this!”. I know the game has changed and the way we consume it has changed but there is still an audience there if you find the right place for it, promote it, ‘take care of it’ and give fans the chance to be part of the conversation on an informed, thoughtful and entertaining show about the sport we all love. I am gutted it’s going but also so thankful for all the amazing people I got to work with over the years. They remain life-long friends and I still can’t quite believe I got to sit alongside the people I grew up watching play the game at the highest level. I remember when Alan Shearer called me “Dan” on one of the first shows I worked on. The little kid inside me thought “Alan Shearer knows my name!”. It was a pleasure to work with so many brilliant pundits and it was great to watch Alex develop on Focus and then go on to host the programme so well. I was asked this week to pick a favourite moment from my 12 years on the show. It’s a very hard question because I have a huge catalogue of wonderful memories. I always look back on our on-the-road shows because we were taking Focus out to the fans; their club was the canvas and we got to paint a beautiful picture together each week about what the place meant to the community, the history, the culture and all the things that were part of that.

2 incredible goals from Villa!! Wow.

Well done Arsenal. Squeaky bums but they got there 🏆

@terrybnd @WandFCouncil @CumbriaCrack @lakedistrictnpa @gazettenewsdesk I get that Terry. I hope the people you mentioned do tidy up and take everything with them. I know it’s a problem and I am sure you have seen it hundreds of times. Let’s hope they know how to respect the countryside.

@mrdanwalker @WandFCouncil @CumbriaCrack @lakedistrictnpa @gazettenewsdesk It’s a night and day difference sadly, Dan. There’s camping out on the fells with care and respect and then there this (video attached). “Fly camping” as it’s called to distinguish between the activities akin to ‘fly tipping’ is sadly a big problem in Lakeland.

Look at these utter ignorant fools! Fly camping above the Kirkstone Pass Inn 😮🤯 It’s been reported to @WandFCouncil but who knows if anyone will head out to educate and enforce Public Space Protection Orders within a UNESCO World Heritage Site? #lakedistrict #countrysidecode My fell running pal sent me these images infuriated asking where are the rangers. Fact is such inconsiderate and irresponsible behaviour needs reporting. Hopefully, they’ll be approached with care and education. It’s a helluva tent to carry up that steep part of the fell above the Kirkstone Pass Inn! I’m sure the guests staying in the boutique accommodation holiday let by the pub will appreciate such views. I wonder if it’ll be abandoned on the fellside tomorrow? How much litter is left behind? Maybe fire pits that harm the land? 🤔🤔

Endcliffe Park for those that don’t know ❤️

Loved watching this today… Tony stands there for the whole of the park run, every Saturday, saying ‘hello’ and clapping everyone who goes past the Mi Amigo memorial ❤️

❤️

Seve passed away 15 years ago today. Perhaps no story sums up the man better than the famous "fruitcake incident" at the 1991 Volvo World Match Play. Enjoy.

I took a little friend with me to the big Mandalorian & Grogu London launch. Fun event in Leicester Square with stormtroopers and my other life-size pal @policecommander Highlight of the night was sitting just across from director and writer @Jon_Favreau - it must be so cool to watch people react to your work with such joy 🙌 Rocking a bit of @SigBespoke on the black carpet with a @ctshirts shirt and shoes from @OliverSweeney Thanks to @ConcordeMedia for the invite The film looks amazing @StarWarsUK @Disney_UK

@jimport I miss my friends but it was time to go

@mrdanwalker Dan ... do you regret leaving the Beeb? Genuine question - no axe to grind.

Does anyone else’s dog get really cross if you come back late? Winnie was not happy last night 😂😂😂

I spoke to Tony over the weekend and he wanted to say a massive thank you to all the people who have come and spoken to him about his trip to America. He’s had a big smile on his face for weeks. He also wanted to thank the mystery person who dropped off some new tools. His old ones were vandalised this week but some lovely human just put some brand new ones under the tree for him ❤️ Have a brilliant bank holiday Monday

Morning Have an amazing Bank Holiday weekend

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Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley was silenced by hecklers as he tried to give media interviews on Wednesday, hours after the latest antisemitic attack in north London. A knifeman with "a history of serious violence and mental health issues" stabbed two Jewish men in Golders Green in what before being tasered and arrested.

@HylandIan Sorry about that Ian. Love your stuff.

Some personnel news. Just filed my final piece for Yahoo. The dreaded budget cuts have found me again. Thanks for reading, and let me know if you need owt doing.