Huw Edwards Charged, BBC Informed Just Hours Before
- Huw Edwards has been charged and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
- The BBC was informed of the charges just hours before they were made public.
- This situation has raised concerns regarding the management of the news and public relations at the BBC.
The BBC was reportedly informed just hours before the public announcement of criminal charges against former presenter Huw Edwards, leaving senior management and staff in disbelief. The Metropolitan Police notified the corporation about the charges against the 62-year-old broadcaster, who is accused of making indecent images of children. Edwards faces three counts related to incidents occurring between December 2020 and April 2022 and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. According to police, Edwards was arrested on November 8, 2022, and subsequently charged on June 26, 2023, following approval from the Crown Prosecution Service. The allegations involve images allegedly shared via WhatsApp. If convicted, Edwards could face a maximum sentence of six months in prison and an unlimited fine. The BBC has chosen not to comment on the situation. This revelation comes shortly after it was disclosed that Edwards was the third highest-paid journalist at the BBC, receiving a £40,000 pay rise last year despite being suspended for a significant portion of that time. BBC Director General Tim Davie defended the pay increase, stating it was a decision made to act “proportionally” in light of the circumstances. Throughout his career, Edwards has been a prominent figure at the BBC, anchoring major events such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II and her funeral, as well as the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. His extensive tenure includes two decades as the presenter of BBC’s News At Ten.