Huw Edwards now after scandal - BBC apology, health struggles and loyal wife

27 February 2024 , 15:50

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Huw Edwards has been off air since he was suspended in July 2023

The BBC has issued an apology to the family who formally complained about newsreader Huw Edwards last year.

The News at Ten presenter, 62, has been off air for six months after being suspended from the corporation, following allegations that he gave more than £35,000 to an unnamed young person since they were 17. Last July, it was first reported that a family had lodged a complaint to the BBC regarding a then-anonymous presenter, whom Edwards' wife later identified as her husband.

Today, the Beeb publicly announced the results of a non-editorial complaints review, led by specialists Deloitte, which concluded that safeguards need to be 'enhanced' so that complaints can be 'escalated and managed' more effectively. BBC Group Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavazia said: "The initial complaint in this case was not escalated quickly enough to senior management and we have apologised to the complainant for this."

The newsreader, 62, was receiving in-patient hospital care for the foreseeable future, his wife Vicky, pictured, said last July

It's been 10 months since a member of the family lodged a complaint about Edwards at a BBC building on May 18, 2023. The BBC sent them an email, but the family did not respond. The family then turned to The Sun and claimed the corporation had failed to take their concerns seriously. This prompted an investigation into the Beeb's star presenter, as well as the way it handled public complaints.

The teenager involved in the complaint insisted in a letter given to the BBC that nothing 'unlawful' or 'inappropriate' had happened with the presenter. On the evening of July 7, 2023, news broke of an unnamed BBC employee being accused of allegedly paying a teenager more than £35,000 for sexually explicit pictures.

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One week later, on July 12, Edwards' loyal wife Vicky Flind named him as the man at the centre of the allegations in a statement issued on his behalf. It read: "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." Vicky said the events had "greatly worsened matters" and Edwards was receiving "in-patient hospital care" for the "foreseeable future" after another "serious episode".

Edwards, who started working at the BBC as a news trainee in 1984, presented the main Six O'Clock News, Ten O'Clock News and was a key presenter at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. He was also the newsreader who announced Queen Elizabeth's passing in September 2022 and let the BBC's coverage of the official mourning period and her funeral.

Edwards has not appeared on any TV shows since his last BBC News appearance on July 5, 2023. He was suspended by the broadcaster following the allegations made against him. In December, a source claimed BBC bosses see no future for the star.

It's been reported that Huw was 'very cross' with his treatment by the BBC and is allegedly 'too unwell' to discuss his future (BBC)

One staffer told the Mirror : "For a long time Huw's was one of the main images. We are not expecting to see it back." They added: "You would have expected the picture to be rotated back again now, and it's telling it hasn't been."

A BBC spokesman said the newsreader's image had been taken down before his suspension and was unrelated to recent events. They said: "We urge people not to speculate. We will not provide a commentary on how things might stand." They added that pictures of Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie had also been removed during the same period.

It came after former BBC chief political correspondent spoke out about Huw's treatment by the corporation and said the star had been left furious. Appearing on GB News in November, John Sargeant said: "I've heard from some people that he's just very cross. ‌He's very honest about the way he's treated, very cross about what's happened, but I mean, the overall result is just so sad. ‌

"It is one of personal sadness and regret because he was an extremely talented man. I knew him in all these different guises and this is devastating." John added: "I sort of came in at the time just thinking that he needed more time and it was just so personally upsetting. I knew him, we were both political correspondents together so we go back a very long way. I was so surprised when these reports came out. I thought, 'It's not the Huw that I know'."

In January of this year, it was reported that Edwards was 'too unwell' to discuss his future at the BBC and was still recovering from a 'serious episode'. Edwards has a history of ill mental health and has spoken openly about his battle with depression over the years. It is unclear if the 62-year-old remains in hospital.

A colleague of Huw told The Times : "The BBC would like to get this whole unhappy situation wrapped up as quickly as possible. Things have been dragging on for six months now and they still haven't been able to make any progress."

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