Sheffield Theatres have today (Friday 26 September) named Dan Walker as Chair of the Board for Sheffield Theatres Trust beginning with immediate effect.
Dan Walker is an award winning broadcaster and author who currently hosts 5 News and presents the Classic FM breakfast show. He was the face of BBC Breakfast and BBC Sport where he hosted Football Focus for 12 years. Dan has also written a number of books including Remarkable People and Standing On The Shoulders.
He studied History and then Journalism at Sheffield University and he and his family moved back to the city over a decade ago. He is a regular at The Crucible and The Lyceum with his family and has been a supporter of the theatres and performing arts for many years.
He is patron of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and a young person’s mental health campaign called Bright Young Dreams. Dan also set-up a charity called The Sheffield 1000 which gives out £1000 each week to smaller charities and good causes in the city.
Dan Walker said: “It is a real honour to be asked to be part of something that I know is so loved and respected in Sheffield. My family always enjoy going to the theatre and we are really proud of the rich heritage and performance quality that Sheffield is known for. I can’t wait to try and support the work of our theatres both here in this beautiful city and beyond”.
Tom Bird, Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres said: “We are thrilled to welcome Dan Walker as Chair of the Board for Sheffield Theatres. 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.
“We were deeply saddened to lose our previous Chair Dame Julie Kenny earlier this year. Julie made such a significant impact in a short time and, as we look ahead, we’re proud to further the legacy she left us with.”
Sheffield Theatres welcomes over 400,000 audience members each year. It is home to four theatres: the Crucible, the Sheffield landmark with a world-famous reputation; the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, an intimate, versatile space for getting closer to the action; the gleaming Lyceum, the beautiful proscenium that hosts the best of the UK’s touring shows, and the Montgomery, a theatre and arts centre with a longstanding history of championing children’s creativity.
Also joining the board of Sheffield Theatres Trust are Michelle Blackburn (joins January 2026), Surriya Falconer (joins September 2026), Angela Foulkes (joined September 2025), Sarah Maylor (joined September 2025) and Richard Stubbs (joins January 2026).
Joining the Montgomery Trust board are Angela Foulkes (Chair), Yejide Adewakun, Emily Blackwell, Linda Bloomfield, Gary Hammonds and Cat Powell.
