Huw Edwards Resigns From The BBC

Edwards been off air since July 2023 since newspapers reported that he’d allegedly paid a young person “more than £35,000” for sexually explicit images. (Screengrab via YouTube/BBC News)

BBC anchor Huw Edwards resigned Monday in a departure that the broadcaster said followed “medical advice” from his doctors.

The BBC veteran has been off air since July 2023 since newspapers reported that he’d allegedly paid a teenager “more than £35,000” for sexually explicit images.

In a statement released Monday, a BBC spokesperson said: “Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC. After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors. The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further.”

For many years before the scandal broke, Edwards was a household name and the widely recognised face of the organisation’s news broadcasting operations. Working on BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten, he regularly anchored for significant events including general elections and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral as one of its highest paid presenters.

The Sun newspaper reported in 2023 that a BBC newsreader allegedly paid an individual “more than £35,000 since they were 17 [years old] in return for sordid images.” The story came after an initial complaint by the individual’s family was made to the BBC in May 2023 but received no response.

Soon after the revelations, Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, named him as the presenter in question and that he was suspended, pending internal investigation. His wife further announced, at a later date, that Edwards was admitted to hospital with “serious mental health issues” after suffering “a serious episode.”

Director General Tim Davie then initiated two inquiries – one scrutinising the BBC’s complaints handling procedures and another aimed at investigating Edwards’ conduct.

The first review found that the broadcaster’s initial inaction resulted in a delayed response, with senior management only finding out about the allegations on July 6, one day before The Sun published its report.