Huw Edwards – latest: Presenter ‘not impressed’ with BBC coverage after ‘feeding frenzy’ over sex scandal

Suspended BBC star Huw Edwards is “not overly impressed” with the broadcaster’s coverage of allegations made against him amid the media “feeding frenzy” over the sex scandal he is at the heart of, his former colleague Jon Sopel has said.

The 61-year-old was identified by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images, as the broadcaster resumed its investigation into the presenter.

Sopel, who worked with Mr Edwards for decades before leaving the corporation last year, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain he had been in touch with Edwards before he went to hospital and said: “He was very angry, I think felt very let down by what happened in the Sun, furious with their coverage, [and] not overly impressed with the BBC’s coverage, either.”

Sopel said coverage of the allegations “got ugly”, adding: “I think it became a feeding frenzy. I think it was a competition to see who could go further the fastest.”

Fresh claims emerged on Wednesday evening that Mr Edwards sent two BBC colleagues and a former member of staff “inappropriate messages”, as reported on BBC Newsnight.

Key Points

• Huw Edwards faces fresh claims as BBC resumes probe

• Presenter’s wife’s statement in full

• Newsreader who broke Queen’s death to nation now at centre of sex scandal

• BBC’s director-general Tim Davie’s note sent to staff

• Edwards is BBC’s most highly paid newsreader

Ex-News of the World editor advising presenter’s family

16:04 , Holly Evans

The former News of the World editor who was jailed on phone hacking charges is giving crisis management advice to the family of Huw Edwards over claims made in The Sun newspaper, the i has reported.

Andy Coulson, the former Downing Street communications chief to David Cameron, is understood to have assisted with the statement Mr Edwards’s wife Vicky Flind gave which named him as the TV star at the centre of the controversy.

Coulson served five months of an 18-month prison term imposed in 2014 after he was convicted of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an Old Bailey trial.

It is not known whether Coulson has spoken directly to Edwards, who has separately engaged lawyers to handle the allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him.

15:30 , Holly Evans

A former BBC journalist revealed that Huw Edwards had been feeling “very angry” about the allegations made in The Sun, prior to his hospitalisation.

Speaking to GMB hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard on Thursday, Jon Sopel told them: “We’ve had contact, obviously not since he has been hospitalised. He was very angry, I think he felt very let down by what had happened in The Sun, he was furious with their coverage. Not overly impressed with the BBC’s coverage either. Anyone that knows him is just wishing him well.

“He is incredibly funny, has got an acid wit. He can be a complicated person to deal with. If you’re entering Huw’s orbit he’s very defensive of his own territory.”

He added: “If it is there is no question of illegality, no question of sexual assault, things might change but as things stand now, there’s been no illegality, there’s been no abuse of power as far as I can see, so therefore I think what is it to do with anybody?”

Huw Edwards has well-documented history of mental health issues

14:39 , Holly Evans

In 2022, Huw Edwards spoke out about how suffering from depression has affected his life and career, sharing that the condition has occasionally left him unable to leave his bed.

In the interview, the BBC News at Ten anchor openly discussed his 20-year long mental health struggles.

Huw Edwards says his depression has sometimes been so severe that he ‘couldn’t work’

Parents offered ‘tens of thousands’ for television interview, sources claim

12:08 , Holly Evans

The parents of a young person at the centre of the Huw Edwards controversy have reportedly been offered tens of thousands of pounds for a television interview.

According to The Guardian, an interview with the couple has been recorded and is being edited for broadcast on TalkTV, the sister station of The Sun.

Sources said that Rupert Murdoch’s News UK had offered a signifcant sum for the interview, but no payment has yet been made, with the parents reportedly taking part in a planned three-part documentary series.

The parents have claimed that their 20-year-old child was taken advantage of by Mr Edwards, who allegedly paid the young person £35,000 in return for explicit images.

Mental health charity calls for Huw Edwards to be given ‘space to receive treatment’

10:04 , Holly Evans

Mental health charity Mind has called for Huw Edwards to be given “space to receive treatment” while he experiences “serious mental health problems”.

The 61-year-old presenter is a patron of a branch of the charity in Llanelli.

“As is well documented, Huw has been treated for severe depression in recent years. He has been very eloquent in talking about his mental health issues,” said the director of Mind Cymru, Susan O’Leary.

“Given these very challenging circumstances, he has asked that he and his family’s privacy be respected.

“We would like to stress that it is important that anybody experiencing serious mental health problems is given the appropriate space to receive the treatment they need.”

Huw Edwards was in ‘high spirits’ at lunch before being told of shock allegations

09:34 , Holly Evans

A friend of Huw Edwards has said he initially did not believe the claims about the BBC presenter because they were “against everything I know about the man”.

Andrew Billen, a feature writer for The Times, had lunch with Edwards last Thursday and said that the TV star was in “high spirits” during the meal.

Their meeting was arranged just hours before the newsreader was informed of the allegations against him.

Mr Billen told Sky News the 61-year-old was “certainly not a man with a tremendous dark cloud hanging over him”.

Discussing the allegations, he said: “Personally speaking I was incredibly shocked. It flew against everything I thought I knew about the man.

“I didn’t believe it partly because I didn’t want to believe it.”

‘This is a disgrace,’ says former BBC presenter

08:52 , Holly Evans

Describing the situation as a “disgrace”, former BBC North America editor Jon Sopel criticised a BBC Radio Four bulletin that broke the news of Mr Edwards’ hospitalisation before revealing fresh allegations.

“My own personal view is that this is a disgrace, if Huw walked in this room I’d give him a hug. It’s the first thing I’d do,” he said. “And by the way, the young person affected who I’m also very concerned about.”

Emily Maitlis questions ‘distasteful’ BBC reporting

08:40 , Holly Evans

In a discussion on their podcast The News Agents, former BBC presenters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel questioned the broadcaster’s coverage of the allegations against Huw Edwards.

Describing it as “a bit distasteful”, Ms Maitlis questioned why BBC staff had not turned to HR if allegations had been made against him.

Mr Sopel added that sources within the BBC had informed him that there is “considerable disquiet” amongst staff, with many “distraught” at the coverage.

Hitting out at claims that Mr Edwards had sent flirtatious messages to staff, Ms Maitlis said: “Whilst you never want journalists to stop doing their job, you are in a weird place in that the way you raise a concern is not through a HR process, not through a complaints process but by breaking a story about them because they’re famous.”

All the allegations made against BBC presenter

07:56 , Holly Evans

Suspended BBC presenter Huw Edwards is facing several allegations against him after being accused last week of paying a young person for sexually explicit photos.

Here are all the allegations made against the TV star:

Huw Edwards scandal: All the allegations made against BBC presenter

Cardiff University calls for Edwards’ privacy to be respected

07:43 , Holly Evans

The vice-chancellor of Cardiff University has said all those involved should now be allowed the right to privacy.

Professor Colin Riordan said: “It is hard to imagine how distressing the events of the last few days must have been for Huw, his family and friends, those bringing the allegations and their families,” he says in a statement.

“All have been pitched into the eye of a media storm that will, unfortunately, have long-lasting effects.

“I hope that Huw receives the support and treatment he needs and that in due course all outstanding issues can be addressed.”

Mr Edwards is an honorary fellow and professor at the university.

The faithful wife: Vicky Flind

06:00 , Jane Dalton

Huw Edwards’s wife, Vicky Flind, is a television producer who has worked on several shows such as ITV’s Peston.

Friends say she is “the kindest, most decent woman”:

Who is Huw Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind and what do we know about the presenter?

BBC boss faces grilling in parliament

05:15 , Jane Dalton

BBC director general Tim Davie will be questioned in parliament about the corporation’s leadership, after mental-health charities called for Huw Edwards to be given support and treatment:

BBC boss faces grilling in parliament over Huw Edwards claims

ICYMI: Family ‘begged BBC to make newsreader stop sending cash'

04:20 , Jane Dalton

The family of the young person at the centre of the original allegations begged the BBC to make Mr Edwards “stop sending the cash,” according to The Sun.

As the newsreader was taken off air, other presenters denied being the person accused. A reminder:

Top BBC presenter ‘taken off air after paying teen £35,000 for explicit pictures’

Newsreader says King’s bluntness ‘refreshing’

03:00 , Jane Dalton

Huw Edwards once described the King as “quite blunt with his views on things”.

The newsreader said he found it rather refreshing.

Of his marathon coverage of the Queen’s death, he said: “I ate a lot of bananas and I drank a lot of tea.”

Huw Edwards shares thoughts on King Charles: ‘He’s quite blunt with his views’

Timeline of a scandal

01:50 , Jane Dalton

A reminder of what happened after the claims emerged:

Huw Edwards: BBC presenter scandal timeline as wife names suspended star

BBC journalists still investigating ‘to prove impartiality'

Friday 14 July 2023 00:40 , Jane Dalton

The claims against Huw Edwards are reportedly being treated like any other story, according to a BBC journalist involved in researching them.

The journalist suggested to The Guardian that BBC News was trying to prove its independence and impartiality from the corporate BBC by trying to drive the story forward.

Sources claim BBC journalists may have been making early inquiries into allegations of workplace impropriety against Mr Edwards without telling BBC News management they were investigating one of their own presenters.

The BBC is officially conducting “fact-finding investigations” into allegations against the veteran broadcaster.

Claims ‘go against everything I know about Edwards’, says friend

Thursday 13 July 2023 23:32 , Jane Dalton

A friend of Huw Edwards says he initially did not believe the claims about the BBC presenter because they were “against everything I know about the man”.

Andrew Billen, a feature writer for The Times, had lunch with him last Thursday, hours before the newsreader was informed of the allegations against him.

He told Sky News the 61-year-old TV personality was “in high spirits” during the meal and was “certainly not a man with a tremendous dark cloud hanging over him”.

Mr Billen said: “I’d have thought this could well have been an HR matter, rather than a matter for an investigation.”

Revelations will rock the nation’s confidence

Thursday 13 July 2023 22:24 , Jane Dalton

Worth a read: The Independent’s chief TV critic Nick Hilton profiles Huw Edwards, his place in our collective consciousness, and the potential fallout of what’s happened:

Huw Edwards: BBC presenter who broke Queen’s death now at centre of sex scandal

The Sun wanted to damage BBC, claims ex-editor

Thursday 13 July 2023 21:15 , Jane Dalton

A former editor of The Sun has criticised the paper, claiming it suggested the then-unidentified presenter had broken the law.

David Yelland said there had been a news story but the way in which it was run had been a problem.

The Sun had wanted to damage the BBC, he told The News Agents podcast.

“There is an existential threat to the BBC from these people,” he said. Some papers wanted the BBC and licence fee abolished.

Parents 'offered tens of thousands of pounds for TV interview’

Thursday 13 July 2023 20:08 , Jane Dalton

The company that owns The Sun has offered tens of thousands of pounds to the parents who made allegations about Huw Edwards, in return for a television interview, it’s been reported.

An interview with the couple has been recorded and is being edited for broadcast on TalkTV, the sister station of The Sun, according to The Guardian.

Sources said News UK had offered the parents a significant sum for the interview, but no payment had yet been made.

But a source reportedly confirmed that TalkTV was speaking to them as part of a planned three-part documentary series.

My depression stopped me working, newsreader said

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:55 , Jane Dalton

Last year, Mr Edwards revealed his depression had been so severe at times that he couldn’t work:

Huw Edwards says his depression has sometimes been so severe that he ‘couldn’t work’

Media focusing too much on Edwards, say most people

Thursday 13 July 2023 18:05 , Jane Dalton

A majority of Britons think there has been too much media focus on Huw Edwards in the past week, YouGov has found.

A poll suggested 60 per cent believe the focus has been “too much”, with even more opposition to the story among older people. More than seven in 10 of those aged over 50 said the story had been given too much attention.

But among 18-24-year-olds that figure dropped dramatically to just 29 per cent, YouGov said.

More Britons than not also said it was wrong for the media to have reported the allegations against Mr Edwards, with just three in 10 people saying it was the right thing to do.

BBC’s seven-week delay in speaking to Edwards

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:35 , Jane Dalton

In case you missed it: The BBC admitted bosses only spoke to the then-unidentified presenter at the centre of the scandal seven weeks after the young person’s family first complained, prompting questions over the corporation’s processes:

Read BBC statement on presenter scandal in full as it admits seven-week delay

BBC investigates ‘calmly'

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:11 , Jane Dalton

The BBC says its investigation into what happened is continuing “calmly” after the police found no criminal activity.

A spokesperson said: “We are moving forward with our fact-finding investigations.

“We are going to get on with this work calmly, carefully and with diligence, with full consideration of our duty of care to all involved.

“We will not be providing further comment while this work is ongoing.”

Ex-Sun editor says newspaper faces ‘crisis’

Thursday 13 July 2023 15:25 , Jane Dalton

A former editor of The Sun claims it “inflicted terror” on newsreader Huw Edwards and the issue is now a crisis for the paper:

But The Sun insists it never claimed the then-unidentified presenter was guilty of criminality and says its reporting of the claims by the parents of the young person involved was in the public interest:

Jon Sopel: Huw Edwards felt angry and let down by coverage of allegations

How the story was reported and what will be investigated

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:30 , Jane Dalton

Huw Edwards is also the BBC’s most highly paid newsreader. This how the story unfolded, what the public interest is and what is covered by media regulation:

Huw Edwards: How was the story reported and what will be investigated now?

BBC boss to face questions in Parliament

Thursday 13 July 2023 14:00 , Jane Dalton

BBC director-general Tim Davie will be questioned in Parliament about the corporation’s leadership following the furore.

Mr Davie, acting chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and policy director Clare Sumner will appear before the Lords Communications Committee on Tuesday.

The committee said peers would raise a range of issues, including “in [the] light of recent events, what concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the BBC‘s governance arrangements and how it is addressing these”.

Mr Davie has already ordered a review to “assess how some complaints are red-flagged up the organisation”.

BBC bosses called to Parliament to face questions following Huw Edwards furore

Opinion: Rupert Murdoch has lobbied against BBC for years

Thursday 13 July 2023 13:25 , Jane Dalton

There is certainly a public interest, post-Savile, in how the corporation handles such complaints but there are questions for both the BBC and The Sun. Alan Rusbridger, a former editor-in-chief of The Guardian, looks at why The Sun did what it did:

Was Rupert Murdoch’s BBC hate behind The Sun’s Huw Edwards exposé? | Alan Rusbridger

MP calls for debate in Commons on BBC

Thursday 13 July 2023 12:54 , Tara Cobham

An MP has called for a debate in the Commons on the BBC and whether its culture has “really changed, as we were promised some years ago”.

Speaking during business questions in the Commons, Reclaim Party MP Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) said: “Once again the BBC finds itself mired in scandal, sleaze and cover-up. So can we have a debate on the BBC?

“Well, we can debate whether its culture has really changed, as we were promised some years ago. We can debate whether the public should still be forced to buy a television licence to view live television, even if they don’t wish to watch the BBC output. And also we can debate whether the BBC is actually fit to be the nation’s self-appointed arbiter of truth and transparency through its Verify unit.”

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt replied: “I think there are many matters related to the BBC of concern to members across this House. We frequently have the BBC – whether it is local radio or the BBC Singers, or indeed, standards and ethics and professional competence and such questions – raised. I am sure it will be a well-attended debate.”

Mental health charity calls for Huw Edwards to be given “space to receive treatment”

Thursday 13 July 2023 12:36 , Tara Cobham

Mental health charity Mind called for Huw Edwards to be given the “space to receive treatment” while he experiences “serious mental health problems”.

The director of Mind Cymru, Susan O’Leary, said Edwards, patron of a branch of Mind in Llanelli, has supported the charity but has not “done any in-person work”.

In a statement, she said: “As is well documented, Huw has been treated for severe depression in recent years. He has been very eloquent in talking about his mental health issues.

“Given these very challenging circumstances, he has asked that he and his family’s privacy be respected.

“We would like to stress that it is important that anybody experiencing serious mental health problems is given the appropriate space to receive the treatment they need.”

Huw Edwards accused of sending BBC staff ‘inappropriate messages’

Thursday 13 July 2023 12:15 , Tara Cobham

Suspended BBC star Huw Edwards is facing fresh claims he sent BBC colleagues "inappropriate messages" as the broadcaster resumed its investigation into the presenter at the centre of the sex photo scandal.

The new claims - which followed the naming of the presenter by his wife on Wednesday night - come from two current and a former BBC worker, who said they had received “inappropriate” messages from Mr Edwards on social media, according to BBC Newsnight.

The former employee said they had never met the presenter but received messages from him on social media, “some late at night and signed off with kisses”, which they said they believed was an “abuse of power”.

Read more:

Huw Edwards accused of sending BBC staff ‘inappropriate messages’

BBC News ‘examining allegations against Huw Edwards days before The Sun story'

Thursday 13 July 2023 11:53 , Tara Cobham

BBC News journalists had been looking into allegations against Huw Edwards just days before The Sun published its story claiming the presenter had paid a young person tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit pictures, according to reports.

BBC sources said Newsnight anchor Victoria Derbyshire was among those examining the accusations, Deadline has reported.

Huw Edwards was ‘very angry’ and ‘felt very let down’, says Jon Sopel

Thursday 13 July 2023 11:35 , Tara Cobham

Huw Edwards was “very angry” and “felt very let down” by the coverage of the allegations made about him, his former colleague Jon Sopel has said.

Sopel, who worked with Edwards for decades before leaving the corporation last year, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain he had been in touch with Edwards before he went to hospital.

He said: “We’ve had contact, obviously not since he’s been hospitalised. He was very angry, I think felt very let down by what happened in the Sun, furious with their coverage, not overly impressed with the BBC’s coverage either.

“I’m sure anyone who knows him is just wishing him well.

“Huw I have known for over three decades, when we were young political correspondents competing against each other to get up the ladder at the BBC. He is incredibly funny, has got an acid wit. He can be a complicated person to deal with.

“If you’re entering Huw’s orbit, he’s very defensive of his own territory, so I wouldn’t say we’re close friends, but I thought that some of the coverage about what has happened about someone’s private life, which is complicated, and possibly a bit messy, and that some might find distasteful, I don’t see what it’s got to do with anyone else.

“If there’s no question of illegality, there’s no question of sexual assault and things might change, but, as things stand now, there’s been no illegality, there’s been no abuse of power, as far as I can see. Therefore, what is it to do with anybody?”

Sopel said coverage of the allegations “got ugly”, adding: “I think it became a feeding frenzy. I think it was a competition to see who could go further the fastest.”

Asked what he thinks the situation means for Edwards professionally, Sopel said: “I think if, at the end of this, what you are left with is someone who had some personal struggles about who he was, what he was, how he lived his life, and he made some ill-considered judgments along the way, I think it would be such a shame, if such a talented and gifted broadcaster – and the way he navigates state occasions and the big events and reads the news with such authority – if that is lost. I think that will be a great loss.

“So I hope he gets better. And I hope that some way, somehow, he’s back – providing nothing else comes out that we don’t know about – but if things are as they are, I hope he makes a return.”

Watch: BBC’s Sophie Raworth mistakenly announces that Huw Edwards has resigned

Thursday 13 July 2023 11:33 , Tara Cobham

Sophie Raworth mistakenly said that Huw Edwards had resigned from his position after announcing that her colleague had been named as the BBC presenter at the heart of a sex scandal.

The veteran broadcaster was named by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the presenter who has faced allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.

Ms Flind added that her husband is receiving in-patient hospital care and “suffering from serious mental health issues.”

Ms Raworth subsequently corrected her report, confirming that Mr Edwards had not stepped down.

Watch: BBC’s Sophie Raworth mistakenly announces that Huw Edwards has resigned

Dan Walker and Elizabeth Day among stars sharing compassion for Huw Edwards

Thursday 13 July 2023 11:15 , Tara Cobham

Dan Walker, David Baddiel and Elizabeth Day are among those who have shared their thoughts on the discussion surrounding Huw Edwards, after the BBC presenter was named as the person facing allegations over payments to a teenager for sexually explicit images.

After days of speculation over the presenter’s identity, on Wednesday (12 July), Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, said the newsreader is “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now “receiving inpatient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future”.

Her statement came as the Metropolitan Police announced that no criminal offence had been committed, and the BBC will now resume its own “fact-finding” investigation into claims made in The Sun last week that Edwards, 61, had paid a young person around £35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for photos.

Ellie Harrison reports:

Huw Edwards: All the reaction as stars share concern for presenter named in BBC row

BBC’s director-general Tim Davie’s note sent to staff

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:55 , Tara Cobham

The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie has said this will “no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days” and added: “I want to reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.”

In a note sent to staff, Mr Davie said: “I wanted to write following this evening’s statements from the family of Huw Edwards and the police.

“Many of you will have read the words of Vicky Flind, Huw’s wife. It is a reminder that the last few days have seen personal lives played out in public. At the heart of this are people and their families.

“This will no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days. I want to reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.

“Also this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police confirmed they would be taking no further action following an assessment of information provided to them.

“As you know, we were asked to pause our fact finding investigations until that assessment had been concluded. It is important we now continue with this work. I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process.

“This remains a very complex set of circumstances. As we have done throughout, our aim must be to navigate through this with care and consideration, in line with the BBC values.”

BBC chief Tim Davie will be questioned in Parliament

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:44 , Tara Cobham

BBC chief Tim Davie will be questioned in Parliament about the corporation's leadership following the Huw Edwards scandal.

The BBC director general, acting chairwowman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and policy director Clare Sumner have been called to appear before the Lords Communications Committee on Tuesday.

The peers will raise a range of issues, including "in light of recent events, what concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the BBC's governance arrangements and how it is addressing these".

Watch: Angela Rayner calls for ‘privacy’ in Huw Edwards scandal

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:35 , Tara Cobham

Statement in full from The Sun on Huw Edwards

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:15 , Tara Cobham

Following the naming of Huw Edwards in relation to a BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images, here is the statement in full from The Sun newspaper:

“The allegations published by The Sun were always very serious. Further serious allegations have emerged in the past few days.

“It is right that the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team continues to investigate these thoroughly and deals with them in the way that they think is appropriate.

“The Sun will cooperate with the BBC’s internal investigation process.

“We will provide the BBC team with a confidential and redacted dossier containing serious and wide-ranging allegations which we have received, including some from BBC personnel.

“The Sun has no plans to publish further allegations.

“We must also re-emphasise that The Sun at no point in our original story alleged criminality and also took the decision neither to name Mr Edwards nor the young person involved in the allegations.

“Suggestions about possible criminality were first made at a later date by other media outlets, including the BBC.

“From the outset, we have reported a story about two very concerned and frustrated parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and payments from him that fuelled the drug habit of a young person.

“We reported that the parents had already been to the police who said that they couldn’t help.

“The parents then made a complaint to the BBC which was not acted upon.

“It is now for the BBC to properly investigate.”

Former editor of The Sun says newspaper faces ‘crisis’

Thursday 13 July 2023 10:04 , Tara Cobham

David Yelland, former editor of The Sun, said the newspaper had “inflicted terror” on Huw Edwards, and now faced a “crisis”.

“I wish @thehuwedwards well,” Yelland wrote on Twitter.

“The Sun inflicted terror on Huw despite no evidence of any criminal offence.

“This is no longer a BBC crisis, it is a crisis for the paper. Huw’s privacy must now be respected.

“Social media also needs speedy reform.”

Who is Huw Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind?

Thursday 13 July 2023 09:55 , Tara Cobham

In a shock announcement, Huw Edwards has been named as the BBC presenter at the centre of a sex scandal that has rocked the nation’s broadcaster.

His wife Vicky Flind named him as the suspended TV star and said that her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was receiving treatment in hospital, where he would remain “for the foreseeable future”.

Describing the last few days as “extremely difficult” for her family, she requested privacy for all involved, including the couple’s five children.

Read more:

Who is Huw Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind and what do we know about the presenter?

‘BBC should be given space to investigate,’ says Government minister

Thursday 13 July 2023 09:35 , Tara Cobham

The BBC should be given space to conduct an investigation into the allegations faced by newsreader Huw Edwards, a Government minister said.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat told Sky News’ The Take: “I think the right thing to do is to allow the BBC to conduct whatever investigation they feel they need to do and to make sure that the family are not dragged into this.

“After all, there’s one person who’s been alleged to have done wrong, not his whole family.”

Asked about the BBC’s handling of the controversy, he said: “I have very partial information and I don’t want to rush to judgment when actually these are serious allegations.

“And the correct thing to do is to find out what actually happened before casting aspersions on anyone.”

BBC continuing ‘fact-finding investigations'

Thursday 13 July 2023 09:18 , Tara Cobham

The BBC is to continue its “fact-finding investigations” into allegations against BBC veteran broadcaster Huw Edwards following the naming of the presenter by his wife on Wednesday night.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a note to staff it is “important” that the work on the internal investigation continues, adding: “I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process.”

Huw Edwards liked two tweets saying claims ‘rubbish'

Thursday 13 July 2023 08:42 , Tara Cobham

Huw Edwards liked two tweets on Monday, which both linked to a BBC article that reported the young person’s lawyers saying the claims made by the mother at the heart of the sex scandal are “rubbish”.

The lawyer told the broadcaster "nothing inappropriate or unlawful" took place and that the young person refuted the allegations to The Sun before it published claims a BBC presenter had paid the teenager for sexually explicit photos.

Jon Sopel tweeted: “The Sun⁩ has made the most serious allegations about a BBC presenter. Now needs to provide evidence or potentially face the mother of all libel actions.”

Huw Edwards recently deleted his Instagram account but still has his Twitter account.

Angela Rayner says reporting of claims against Huw Edwards was ‘tragic'

Thursday 13 July 2023 08:20 , Tara Cobham

Angela Rayner has said the reporting of allegations against Huw Edwards was “tragic” and raises questions about the BBC’s complaints processes.

The Labour deputy leader said the story “pitted parents against a child” and “the BBC against The Sun”, and left Mr Edwards in “an awful situation”.

“"It's right that the BBC look at their processes, and see if their complaints process works properly,” she told Times Radio.

She added: “People have to have confidence in those processes, that they can come forward if there's issues in the workplace, and that there's policies and procedures that will deal with it there.

“Are the BBCs policies and procedures correct and are they being applied in the correct manner as well?”

And Ms Rayner said: “It's an absolutely tragic situation, which has pitted parents against a child, the BBC against The Sun. And Huw Edwards is obviously in an awful situation now and his family have made that very clear of the circumstances for him.”

Huw Edwards faces fresh claims as BBC resumes probe

Thursday 13 July 2023 07:59 , Tara Cobham

One current and one former BBC worker have said they had received “inappropriate messages” from Mr Edwards, “some late at night and signed off with kisses”, in fresh claims reported on Wednesday evening by BBC Newsnight.

Both said there was “a reluctance among junior staff to complain to managers about the conduct of high-profile colleagues in case it adversely affected their careers,” Newsnight said.

This comes after the BBC has resumed its investigation into Mr Edwards after pausing it upon request of the Metropolitan Police while the force conducted its own probe into a string of allegations against Mr Edwards, including paying a young person for sexually explicit images.

But, after the Met concluded there was no information to indicate that a criminal offence had been committed, the broadcaster said it will conduct “a thorough assessment of the facts, while continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved”.

BBC presenter scandal timeline

Thursday 13 July 2023 05:00 , Holly Evans

The wife of newsreader Huw Edwards has revealed he is the presenter in the middle of the BBC scandal.

Vicky Flind said her husband was in hospital “suffering from serious mental health issues” after facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.

Here is a timeline behind the controversy:

BBC presenter scandal timeline as Huw Edwards revealed as suspended star

Viewers praised Edwards’s non-stop coverage of Queen’s funeral

Thursday 13 July 2023 04:00 , Jane Dalton

Back in September, BBC News viewers joked that the presenter deserved ‘a fortnight off’ after days on end commentating on the Queen’s funeral. A reminder:

BBC viewers joke Huw Edwards deserves ‘a fortnight off’ after Queen’s funeral

Huw Edwards’s 20-year struggle with mental health

Thursday 13 July 2023 03:00 , Jane Dalton

Newsreader Huw Edwards has spoken publicly in the past about his mental health problems, describing how his depression and anxiety had left him unable to get out of bed at times:

Huw Edwards has spoken publicly in past of 20-year struggle with mental health

Media figures send support to ‘superb broadcaster’

Thursday 13 July 2023 02:00 , Jane Dalton

Journalists and high-profile media figures are among those who have sent support to the “superb broadcaster”:

Media figures among those sending support to ‘superb broadcaster’ Huw Edwards