Huw Edwards has said he will ‘challenge the misleading or fabricated’ claims surrounding him after he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children
Huw is plotting his next move(Image: PA)
Huw Edwards vows to “challenge” claims about himself. The disgraced BBC News anchor will “challenge the misleading or fabricated claims” made in recent coverage, and will “produce my own account”.
Edwards was one of the BBC’s highest-paid newsreaders, known for presenting the BBC’s News At Ten for decades, before pleading guilty to making indecent images of children in July 2024.
He was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Edwards was placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years after his sentence.
The disgraced broadcaster was offered “naughty” images of somebody described as “ying [sic]”, to which he replied “go on”. Edwards was also the subject of a recent Channel 5 drama about his downfall, starring Doc Martin actor Martin Clunes.
He said in a statement: “Much has been written and reported in the past week following Channel 5’s one-sided account. Other opportunities will arise later this year for me to state my case and to challenge the misleading or fabricated claims made in recent coverage.
“A number of serious questions still remain to be answered, and not just by me. It will now take some time for me to produce my own account, and until then, I do not intend to comment any further.” It is understood that Edwards intends to make his own documentary or podcast series about the events.
Edwards previously claimed the production company behind the 5 drama, Wonderhood Studios, failed to check the “truth” of the narratives shown in the series, relating to allegations made by The Sun in July 2023, which claimed that a “top BBC star” paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexual pictures.
Days later, Edwards’ wife named him as the presenter at the centre of the scandal. He resigned from the BBC in April and was charged in June 2024 following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
In a previous statement, he said: “[They] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production. They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response. They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions. Channel 5’s ‘factual drama’ is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.
“My deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court. In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions. I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children. Every image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I did.
“I am making an effort to produce my own account of these terrible events. This is a slow process, given the fragile state of my health. have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years. What is less well known is the severity of that condition, which was managed successfully until the downward spiral which led to an appalling outcome.
“Mental illness is misunderstood by many, but can never be an excuse for criminality. It can, however, at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.”
A previous statement from Channel 5 said: “Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.
“It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”
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