13-7-2023 (LONDON) Renowned television news anchor Huw Edwards, known for his prominent role at the BBC, has been identified by his wife as the presenter facing allegations of paying a young person a substantial sum for sexually explicit photographs, as reported by the broadcaster.
Huw Edwards, who delivered the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing to the nation in September, has been at the forefront of coverage for major events in Britain over the past two decades, including elections, royal weddings, and the 2012 Olympics.
His wife, Vicky Flind, released a statement expressing concern for Edwards’ mental health and to safeguard their children, in response to the initial report by The Sun newspaper, which caused widespread media attention and triggered days of speculation.
Flind stated, “Huw is struggling with serious mental health issues. As is well known, he has received treatment for severe depression in recent years. The events of the past few days have significantly exacerbated his condition, resulting in another severe episode. He is currently receiving in-patient hospital care and will remain there for the foreseeable future.”
The story initially surfaced on Friday when The Sun tabloid revealed that a prominent BBC presenter had allegedly paid £35,000 (US$45,000) to an individual for explicit photos over a period of three years, starting when the person was 17 years old.
While the BBC suspended the presenter in question, they refrained from disclosing their identity. Other BBC personalities took to social media to deny their involvement, as online speculation ran rife.
The BBC faced criticism as it grappled with investigating the allegations against the presenter, ensuring the individual’s privacy was protected, responding publicly to the accusations, and avoiding any potential backlash against other presenters who came under suspicion. It is important to note that the age of consent for sexual activity in England is 16, but images of individuals under 18 can be classified as child pornography.
NO INDICATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE
London’s Metropolitan Police announced earlier on Wednesday that it had concluded its assessment of the allegations and found no indication of a criminal offense.
“There is no further police action,” they stated.
The BBC confirmed that its internal investigation into the allegations would continue.
In an email to staff, BBC Director General Tim Davie acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying, “This will undoubtedly be a difficult time for many following a challenging few days. I want to assure you that our primary concern is our duty of care to all those involved.”
A spokesperson for The Sun newspaper stated that they had no plans to publish additional allegations and would cooperate with the BBC’s investigation.
“We will provide the BBC team with a confidential and redacted dossier containing serious and wide-ranging allegations that we have received, including some from BBC personnel,” the spokesperson said.
Edwards, who has five children, has been with the BBC since 1984 and has anchored the flagship “BBC News at Ten” bulletin for over two decades. He is the highest-paid news presenter at the broadcaster, earning between £435,000 and £439,999.
Flind expressed her hope that the statement would put an end to media speculation, which had also impacted Edwards’ BBC colleagues.
“Once he is well enough to do so, he intends to address the stories that have been published,” she concluded.
