In a statement issued on behalf of Huw Edwards, his wife Vicky Flind has named the veteran news anchor as the BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teenager over £35,000 for sexually explicit pictures. She revealed that Edwards is currently receiving in-patient hospital care due to serious mental health issues and will remain there for the foreseeable future. The statement also requested privacy for their family during this difficult time.
Initially, at 6pm, the BBC stated that Edwards had resigned, but they later clarified that he had not quit. The revelation that Edwards is at the centre of these allegations came shortly after the Metropolitan Police announced that there was no information indicating that a criminal offence had been committed.
After the police confirmed that no further action would be taken, a spokesperson for the BBC stated that they would now resume their fact-finding investigations with due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, while prioritizing their duty of care to all involved.
The BBC later added that Edwards is facing additional allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards colleagues at the corporation. The 61-year-old newsreader, one of the BBC’s most prominent figures, has been presenting the flagship BBC News at Ten program multiple times since the claims were allegedly reported to the corporation in May.
According to The Sun newspaper, Edwards, referred to as a “household name,” is accused of providing a young person with more than £35,000. The alleged requests for explicit images reportedly began in 2020 when the individual was 17. There are also allegations that Edwards stripped to his underwear during a video call with the now 20-year-old.
The young person’s mother expressed shock when her child showed her a screenshot of Edwards seemingly preparing for them to perform for him. Following the complaint made by the young person’s family, the BBC suspended Edwards and emphasized that they take all allegations seriously, having robust internal processes in place to address such matters proactively.
The family approached The Sun after their frustration grew over Edwards remaining on air a month after they lodged their complaint. The investigation into the allegations involving Huw Edwards continues, and the BBC is committed to ensuring a thorough examination of the facts and proper handling of the situation.
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