Dan Walker says BBC Breakfast 'took toll on brain and body' as he starts new job

dailystar.co.uk:

BBC presenter Dan Walker has said he is looking forward to a "fresh challenge" hosting Channel 5 news shows.The 45-year-old will begin presenting duties with 5 News today (June 6) and has insisted his move is not money motivated.Dan, who was part of BBC Breakfast for six and a half years, said getting up at 3am for work "took a toll on his brain and body".Speaking to The Mirror, Dan said: "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."Dan currently lives in Sheffield with his wife Sarah and three children.He hopes his new job will allow them to spend more time together, even though his new role is based in London.He said: "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."If I want to have a long weekend, like a Monday or a Friday off, I can just shuffle it around, which is brilliant."Ahead of his debut as a 5 News presenter, Dan has admitted he has not done a full run through in the studio with co-host Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije.He said: "I went in and had a look around the studio and I'm quite keen to have a bit of movement involved in it."But I didn't really want to do a run through because I don't really like rehearsing too much."I like that adrenaline rush of live TV, we don't really know what's happening and try to keep it as spontaneous as possible."He said the style of the show will have some similarities to his role on BBC.