Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter at centre of scandal
Huw Edwards has been named by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Flind said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is “receiving inpatient hospital care, where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.
Flind said: “In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”
Key events
Current and former BBC journalists have been tweeting their reaction to the news about Huw Edwards this evening.
John Simpson wrote: “I feel so sorry for everyone involved in this: for the Edwards family, for the complainants, and for Huw himself. No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now.”
I feel so sorry for everyone involved in this: for the Edwards family, for the complainants, and for Huw himself. No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now.
— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) July 12, 2023
Broadcaster Jon Sopel, the BBC’s former North America editor, described the situation as “awful and shocking” and hit out at some of the reaction to this story.
He said Huw Edwards was not guilty of any criminality but had “perhaps a complicated private life” which no longer felt “very private”.
This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well. pic.twitter.com/H3rN3bhE1U
— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) July 12, 2023
South Wales Police not taking further action
Vikram Dodd
South Wales police say they have ended their inquiries into the matter.
The force said a meeting with the BBC and Met police earlier this week led to them carrying out fresh inquiries.
They first decided in April no offence had been committed.
After the Met announcement on Wednesday, South Wales police said they had reached the same conclusion.
Here is the force’s full statement:
“South Wales police has remained in contact with representatives of the Metropolitan police and the BBC following a meeting on Monday.
“Information was initially received by the force in April 2023 regarding the welfare of an adult. No criminality was identified.
“Following recent events, further enquiries have been carried out and officers have spoken to a number of parties to establish whether any criminal allegations are being made.
“At this time, there is no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed. There are no ongoing enquiries being carried out by South Wales police.
“However, should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point in future then they will be investigated.”
Correction: a post in this live blog earlier said that PA Media and Sky News had reported Huw Edwards had resigned. PA Media, in fact, did not report that. Sky News initially reported that the BBC said he had resigned, though they later corrected that to say he had not.
Jim Waterson
Vicky Flind, the wife of newsreader Huw Edwards, has named him as the BBC presenter suspended after allegations he paid for sexually explicit images.
She said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is currently “receiving inpatient hospital care, where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future”.
Her statement came shortly after the Metropolitan police said there was no evidence that Edwards committed a criminal offence, and the force would end its inquiries relating to the case.
The Sun had alleged the presenter paid a young person for explicit photos, starting when the individual was 17 – a potentially serious criminal offence. Officers have now concluded there is no evidence to support this allegation.
Vikram Dodd
The time it took the Met police to reach their assessment no criminal offence had been committed was relatively rapid.
A detective met virtually with the BBC on Monday lunchtime.
Barely 48 hours later Britain’s biggest police force was confident enough to declare that whatever happened, it was not a matter for them.
The Met is the second police force to look at the alleged contact between the BBC presenter and youth and decide it did not amount to a crime.
South Wales police have said they assessed material in April and reached the same decision as the Met police.
Full Met police statement
Here is the statement from the Met police concluding no criminal offence was committed regarding allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
Detectives from the Met’s specialist crime command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed.
In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force. There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.
We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.
Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force.
Who is Huw Edwards?
Huw Edwards is one of the most recognisable faces on British television, anchoring coverage of major national events and presenting the BBC’s News At Ten.
The 61-year-old has fronted the flagship nightly news programme for the last 20 years.
Edwards, who was born in Bridgend and brought up in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984.
In four decades at the corporation, he has been among the broadcasting teams leading coverage of historical events including the late queen’s funeral last September and the coronation of the king in May.
Edwards, a married father-of-five, announced the late queen’s death on the BBC.
He has been the BBC’s go-to presenter for big news events and has been front and centre in live broadcasts of election coverage, the queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012 and p-latinum jubilee in 2022, the wedding of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, and the funeral of the late Duke of Edinburgh in 2021.
Edwards was also the BBC’s voice at Trooping the Colour and the Festival of Remembrance.
The news anchor was a Westminster correspondent for 13 years, and has played a key role in the BBC’s political reporting, taking over election coverage from the long-serving David Dimbleby in 2019.
The BBC has reported that Huw Edwards is facing “yet more allegations of inappropriate behaviour” this evening.
The new accusations are that he behaved inappropriately towards colleagues at the BBC.
You can read our full story on this development here:
The Metropolitan police have said no criminal offence has been committed over the allegations regarding payments for sexually explicit images.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. We’re grateful to them for completing this work at speed.
“The police had previously asked us to pause our fact-finding investigations and we will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.”
Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter at centre of scandal
Huw Edwards has been named by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Flind said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is “receiving inpatient hospital care, where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.
Flind said: “In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”
