Emily Maitlis slams BBC stars for Huw Edwards reporting 'instead of going to HR'
Emily Maitlis has branded the BBC's reporting of the Huw Edwards allegations 'a bit distasteful' a week since the scandal broke.
BBC Newsnight, which Maitlis stepped down as host from last year, revealed on Wednesday that fresh allegations had been made against Edwards from three current and former employees at the broadcaster claiming the Edwards sent them 'inappropriate' and 'flirtatious' messages.
Reflecting on the latest development, Maitlis hit out at the journalists reporting on the accusations on her podcast The News Agents.
"If you know this stuff about a colleague, why isn't your first duty to then go to HR or a senior manager... rather than turning it into a news story?" she asked.
Mirror Online has approached the BBC for comment.
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Writer Andrew Billen, a friend of Huw Edwards, said he felt 'surprised' the BBC were still proceeding with their investigation as it emerged the News at 10 presenter had been hospitalised with mental health issues.
"I was surprised last night that Newsnight continued to investigate, especially given the fact we know that he was in hospital, but I understand it from the BBC's point of view.
"If they zealously go after other public figures who committed some kind of wrongdoing, to be seen to be independent, they have to do the same with their own."
Billen also revealed he had been for lunch with Huw last Thursday, the night before The Sun first went public with allegations.
Yesterday it was reported that Newsnight's Victoria Derbyshire had been investigation allegations surrounding Huw's conduct.
Deadline claimed that Derbyshire had been examinating accusations before The Sun published claims that Edwards paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexually explicit photos.
Two BBC insiders said Derbyshire had been looking into the issue for “a while” and had contacted multiple individuals regarding rumors about Edwards’ alleged behaviour, Deadline reports.
While a third BBC source is said to have downplayed the work, "saying that she had a conversation with one individual, but ultimately deemed that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Edwards. This source said they would not describe the reporting as an investigation."
On Wednesday BBC Newsnight reported new claims from one current and one former BBC worker, who said they had received “inappropriate messages” from Edwards, “some late at night and signed off with kisses”.
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,” the programme said.
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A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror the corporation was 'proud' of their staff for reporting on allegations about their own work place and colleague with 'utmost professionalism' over the last week.
They said in a statement: “BBC News has reported on itself as it would on any other media organisation – with transparency and independence. This has been a complex and fast-moving story involving serious allegations about a high-profile public figure, who was suspended by his employer and was at one point the subject of a police investigation, which is of great interest to our audiences. There was a clear public interest in covering it.
“Since the first allegations about the presenter, we have reported rigorously and fairly on new developments, including those investigated by BBC News, and analysed the legal issues raised. At every stage we have made clear to our audiences exactly what we knew and didn’t knew, and what evidence we had seen and verified. We have featured a wide range of voices commenting on this story.
“We’re very mindful of the difficulties for everyone involved in this story. We’re proud of our staff who’ve reported on allegations about their own workplace and colleague with the utmost professionalism.”
On Thursday it was revealed that BBC director-general Tim Davie will be questioned in Parliament about the corporation’s leadership following the Huw Edwards furore.
Mr Davie, acting chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and policy director Clare Sumner will appear before the Lords Communications Committee on Tuesday.
Despite the appearance being booked before the Edwards story broke, the Committee said on Thursday that it would raise 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”.
Mr Davie has already ordered a review to “assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation” following allegations a high-profile presenter, now known to be Edwards, paid a young person for explicit images.
The BBC is currently conducting “fact-finding investigations” into allegations against the veteran broadcaster, after he was named by his wife on Wednesday night.
Vicky Flind issued a statement via the PA news agency to say her husband is “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is receiving in-patient hospital care.
The Metropolitan Police have said no criminal offence has been committed by Edwards and no further police action will be taken “at this time”, allowing an internal BBC investigation to resume.
Jon Sopel has said Huw Edwards felt let down by coverage (ITV)The Sun, which first reported allegations against the then-unnamed presenter last week, claiming he had paid a young person tens of thousands of pounds for explicit images, said it has no plans to publish further allegations and will co-operate with the BBC’s internal investigation process.
Sopel, who worked with Edwards for decades, said Edwards was “very angry” and “felt very let down” by the coverage of the allegations made about him.
He 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.”
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