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Huw Edwards: The fall from grace of one of TV’s most recognisable faces

16 Sep 2024 4 minute read
Huw Edwards. Picture by the BBC.

Huw Edwards was one of the most recognisable faces on TV before his glittering career came to an end amid a scandal that ended with him receiving a suspended prison sentence.

The 63-year-old was the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader and presented the News At Ten for decades before he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children in late July.

Edwards was regarded as the best-known face of BBC News and was seen as a safe pair of hands to guide the country through major events including the late Queen’s death, which he announced to the nation in September 2022.

The disgraced newsreader has been making headlines this summer after he admitted to having 41 indecent images on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.

Edwards was spared jail and the judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court said it would not be “an exaggeration” to say his “long-earned reputation is in tatters.”

Sexually explicit photos

He had earned a reputation as a respected veteran broadcaster before he resigned from the corporation in April following a furore amid allegations, separate to the charges he later faced, about making payments to a young person for sexually explicit photos.

The newsreader was front and centre in live broadcasts of election coverage, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the wedding of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, and the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in 2021.

Edwards was also the BBC’s voice at Trooping the Colour and the Festival of Remembrance.

When the BBC was looking for someone to take over election coverage from the long-serving David Dimbleby in 2019, it was Edwards who was chosen.

Edwards was also the corporation’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £475,000 to £479,999 for the year 2023/24, before he resigned, according to the BBC’s latest annual report.

This last salary marked an increase from 2022/23, when he was paid between £435,000 and £439,999 for 180 days presenting on BBC One, as well as news specials.

In 2018, it was reported that he had agreed to take a pay cut following revelations over unequal pay for men and women at the BBC.

Edwards said in 2021 that he was considering his future presenting News At Ten as he approached his 60th birthday.

Cardiff University

The broadcaster, who attended Llanelli Grammar School and graduated in French from Cardiff University, was an honorary professor in the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at his old university before he resigned from both his honorary professor title and honorary fellowship following his guilty plea.

In June 2023, Edwards picked up the best live event honour at the Tric Awards for being among those to cover the state funeral of the late Queen, and in February he received the Broadcast Awards’ special recognition award.

In 2012 the BBC won a TV Bafta for Edwards’ coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding and the Welsh newsreader has also won the best on-screen presenter prize at the Bafta Cymru awards numerous times over the years.

Songs of Praise

Edwards was previously vice president of the National Churches Trust and has appeared on Songs Of Praise.

He has also made documentaries for the BBC including Wales: Who Do We Think We Are? and talked about his depression on S4C’s Huw Edwards Is 60.

In a documentary in 2021, Edwards revealed he has had bouts of depression over the last two decades which have left him “bedridden”.

“Like everyone that suffers with depression, you don’t get one bout of it. It comes and goes,” he said.

“For me, it started around 2002 I think. I went down fairly quickly and I couldn’t understand it.”

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Jane Garvey and Fi Glover, Fortunately… With Fi And Jane, he said he decided to share publicly that he has depression as he felt it was “complete hypocrisy” to support organisations such as the Shawmind Foundation or Mind without explaining why.


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Gareth Westacott
Gareth Westacott
24 days ago

So, what was the sentence of the court? We’re not told.

Last edited 24 days ago by Gareth Westacott
A.Redman
A.Redman
24 days ago

6 months suspended for 2 years.

Billy James
Billy James
24 days ago

This is not justice…
The guy who supplied him also had a 10 months suspended..

It makes you wonder who else from the elites are involved…

Bethan
Bethan
24 days ago
Reply to  Billy James

The judge’s reasoning was outrageous. Because he had daddy issues and didn’t get to go to Oxford. Well if every predator who was raised in an abusive environment was spared prison time then it wouldn’t even be worth calling it a crime. He’s not special because of that. He’s typical in fact and the part about him not being accepted by Oxford and having to settle for Cardiff. How out of touch is that judge? That’s not a valid excuse to prey on children. People of Cardiff lock your doors at night because apparently Cardiff University is a psycho factory.… Read more »

Last edited 24 days ago by Bethan
Jeff
Jeff
23 days ago
Reply to  Bethan
Bethan
Bethan
23 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

I’ve read it thanks.

Jeff
Jeff
23 days ago
Reply to  Bethan

It stinks. But the perp has the same treatment as others hence the sentencing notes, we only get upset at this because it’s a person in the lime light. We don’t see all the others that are also handed such sentences, the press are partly to blame here for under reporting (many have dedicated court reporters, it will get a mention but they are not big names so no massive front page multi day spreads). This is my takeaway. This points to the system is not looking after abused, they are forgotten. And that goes for any abuse, domestic, controlling,… Read more »

Les Cargot
Les Cargot
24 days ago
Reply to  Billy James

Straight out of the Farage Riots playbook. And no, before you accuse me of defending Huw Edward’s, I’m not,

Bethan
Bethan
23 days ago
Reply to  Les Cargot

How’s that? This is an appalling decision no matter what a person’s political tilt is. An abuse of the legal system.

Les Cargot
Les Cargot
23 days ago
Reply to  Bethan

“It makes you wonder who else from the elites are involved…”,Billy James.
“What aren’t we being told”, Nigel Farage. Same vein, same playbook. Try this for size, What aren’t we being told about Farage?

Adrian
Adrian
23 days ago
Reply to  Les Cargot

What on earth are you on about? Multiple rioters went to jail: this peadophile got away with a suspended sentence.

Les Cargot
Les Cargot
22 days ago
Reply to  Adrian

Different crimes. Have I touched a nerve mentioning that international jetsetter and part time Clacton MP Farage.

Last edited 22 days ago by Les Cargot
Adrian
Adrian
22 days ago
Reply to  Les Cargot

Did I touch a verve by suggesting that peadophilia should be punished with a custodial sentence?
Oh, and a question should have a question mark at the end.
You’re welcome.

Les Cargot
Les Cargot
21 days ago
Reply to  Adrian

What’s a “verve” got to do with anything?
Here’s the one I missed. “?”
And learn how to spell “peadophilia” correctly.
You’re welcome.

Alun
Alun
23 days ago

If you post something nasty on Facebook you serve jail time, if you pay for indecent images of seven year old children, it’s a suspended sentence.
What a crazy world we live in.

CapM
CapM
23 days ago
Reply to  Alun

Wasn’t the “something nasty on Facebook” incitement to burn people alive?

That’s the sort of thing that warrants time in prison.
So too does Huw Edwards’ crime.

Bethan
Bethan
23 days ago
Reply to  CapM

Thank you! Some non-binary logic in 2024. Just because a=wrong doesn’t make b right. It’s baffling that this situation is being used as ammunition from both sides of the political fence to try to prove points about whether or not there are grand conspiracies within the legal system or whether the far-right are brainwashing audiences in an anti-police agenda or whatever the heck else people have agendas and pre-conceived notions about. People need to centre themselves a bit and be objective. In this case, the legal system did it’s due diligence up to the judge’s decision. The police did their… Read more »

Adrian
Adrian
23 days ago
Reply to  Bethan

Words and actions are not the same thing. The FB poster should have got a suspended sentence and this peado should have been jailed.

CapM
CapM
21 days ago
Reply to  Adrian

“Words and actions are not the same thing. “
However
‘FIRE’ is the last word someone facing a firing squad hears.
Your logic suggests he’s should not be overly perturbed.

Mawkernewek
Mawkernewek
23 days ago

Five years for participating in a zoom meeting (Roger Hallam) and a 6 month suspended sentence for Huw Edwards. Hard to argue that Huw got let off lightly.

Adrian
Adrian
23 days ago
Reply to  Mawkernewek

Don’t be so bloody silly. Hallam’s a dangerous nut case, and a repeat offender. He didn’t get five year for just ‘participating in a Zoom meeting’.

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