BBC Issued Warnings To Huw Edwards About Prior Online Conduct

BBC leaders were grilled in Parliament about the “adequacy” of the corporation’s governance arrangements following the Edwards scandal. (Press Association via AP Images)

The BBC issued a warning to former presenter Huw Edwards about his online behaviour two years before a scandal involving payments for sexually explicit images led to his resignation, confidential documents reveal.

According to information seen by The Sunday Times, a complaint was lodged by a woman in her late 40s in 2021 alleging inappropriate interactions via Instagram and email with Edwards. The BBC warned Edwards “to stop” contact and discussed his “actions and social media use” with him, the newspaper said.

Despite this, the Times reported, the issue resurfaced and the woman submitted a further complaint one year later that was also subsequently withdrawn but prompted senior BBC team members to tell Edwards, again, to “cease” contact with the woman.

Edwards, a former anchor on the News at Ten, stepped down last week on “medical advice,” following accusations of paying a teenager £35,000 for explicit content. Both South Wales and Metropolitan Police have since found no evidence of criminal activity.

The broadcaster confirmed Edwards’ departure on April 22 and said he had quit on “medical advice from his doctors.”