BBC News Anchor Huw Edwards has been named as the man involved in a sexting scandal that has been dominating British media.
Edwards, 61, was reported by the British tabloid The Sun to have been paying a young person £35,000, or about $45,000 USD, over the course of several years in exchange for sexual pictures, starting from when the victim was 17 years old.
Initial coverage of the scandal only revealed that the offender was a “BBC Presenter,” and omitted the name due to privacy laws.
Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, has since made a statement confirming Edwards’ involvement in the incident. In the statement, Flind says that her husband “is suffering from serious mental health issues,” and as a result of the scandal has experienced a serious depressive episode that requires in-patient hospital care. Edwards will remain institutionalized for the “foreseeable future,” and will respond to the news media when he is able to do so.
The statement goes on to ask for privacy for Flind and Edwards’ family, as well as extend the anchor’s apologies to his colleagues.
BBC also released a statement acknowledging the London police investigation into the matter. The police had concluded the presenter had no criminal case, but the station will continue its own fact-checking.
Further Accusations
The parents of the victim, now 20, brought the accusations to The Sun on their child’s behalf. The Sun has also confirmed that the parents will be interviewed as part of a three-part documentary series. However, the victim and their lawyer have dismissed their claims against the anchor as “rubbish.”
Edwards is also under fire for two separate interactions with young people. A 20-year-old has come forward with claims that Edwards had sent them “abusive” messages via a dating app. Another 23-year-old has alleged that Edwards met with them during COVID lockdown procedures.
Huw Edwards has been revered as a presenter for BBC, even announcing the Queen’s death and spearheading her funeral coverage. BBC has suspended Edwards as a result of the accusations.
Written by Elena Wilson
Sources:
People: BBC Names Huw Edwards, Who Announced Queen Elizabeth’s Death, as Presenter Involved in Teen Sex Scandal; by Simon Perry
The Guardian: Parents in Huw Edwards case ‘offered tens of thousands for TalkTV interview’; by Jim Waterson
New York Times: Top News Anchor Is Identified as Person Suspended by the BBC; by Mark Landler
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Inset Image Courtesy of Ben Sutherland’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
