Dan Walker named chair of Sheffield Theatres
Broadcaster and television journalist takes helm of city theatre company after the passing of Dame Julie Kenny
Dan Walker has been named chair of the board of Sheffield Theatres, the Sheffield-based umbrella organisation that runs the Crucible, the Lyceum Theatre, the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse and the Montgomery arts centre. He is taking on the role with immediate effect on Friday, succeeding Dame Julie Kenny, whose death was announced earlier this year.
Walker, a familiar face on British television as the host of 5 News, also spent years presenting BBC Breakfast and hosted Football Focus for 12 years. A Sheffield University alumnus, where he studied History and Journalism, he remains closely linked to the city he has described as home. He is a patron of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and has spoken publicly about his pride in the city’s artistic heritage. In a statement, Walker said it is an honour to be asked to lead an organisation he knows to be “loved and respected in Sheffield,” adding that his family enjoys going to the theatre and that the city’s rich heritage and performance quality “are something we’re really proud of.”
Sheffield Theatres chief executive Tom Bird said the organisation was “deeply saddened” to lose its previous chair, Dame Julie Kenny, earlier this year. He paid tribute to Julie Kenny’s impact and said the board is excited to embolden the legacy she left. “Dan’s love of his home city of Sheffield, together with his passion for the power of theatre, make him the perfect candidate to chair this wonderful organisation. We’re immensely proud that Dan, a much-loved figure across the country, will lead Sheffield Theatres into a bright future,” Bird added.
Sheffield Theatres operates several venues in the city, including the Crucible and Lyceum, which have long been central to Sheffield’s cultural life. The Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse and the Montgomery provide additional spaces for theatre and arts programming, underscoring Sheffield Theatres’ mission to present a wide range of productions and community events. Walker’s appointment comes as the company continues to navigate funding, programming and community engagement in a changing cultural landscape.