Crime & Safety
What happened to presenter Huw Edwards and where is he now?
However, the downfall of the Welsh presenter came after a national newspaper reported that “a top BBC star” had paid a teenager for sexual images.
Days later, Edwards’ wife named him as the presenter, and he later resigned from the BBC and was charged in June 2024 following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
Now, a Channel 5 drama titled Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, starring Martin Clunes, will air, focusing on how a young, vulnerable man, played by Osian Morgan, came into contact with one of the most powerful figures in television.
What did Huw Edwards do?
Huw Edwards was a notable news presenter, having been the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten from 2003 to 2023.
During his time at the BBC, he presented on BBC News at Six, BBC News at One, BBC Weekend News, Daily Politics and the international news channel BBC World News.
Edwards covered the 2019 General Election and major royal events, such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the coronation of Charles III and Camilla the following year.
The Welsh broadcaster was one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters.
In 2023, Edwards was accused of sexual misconduct, with reports saying he paid a teenager for sexual images.
He was suspended by the BBC following the allegations, and the South Wales Police and the Metropolitan Police found no evidence of criminal conduct.
Edwards was hospitalised with depression shortly afterwards and resigned in April 2024.
In June 2024, Edwards was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
In July, he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children by receiving them during online chats and, in September, was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
The new Channel 5 show is a two-part drama that will “explore the newsreader’s double life as it spirals out of control, leading to his exit from public life following his conviction for making indecent images of children”.
Martin Clunes will play Edwards, with the factual drama based on first-hand interviews with those at the heart of the story, and many of the text messages between Edwards and the young man.
Where is Huw Edwards now?
Reports suggest Edwards is living a reclusive life in South Wales, staying at his mother’s bungalow following his conviction.
Edwards and his wife, Vicky Flind, lived in a home in Dulwich, London, which went up for sale after the scandal.
In July 2024, it was reported that Edwards and Flind had separated some time ago and that Edwards had been living elsewhere.
Flind reportedly filed for divorce after Edwards’ sentencing, with the home going on the market as part of the proceedings.
Edwards will remain on the sex offenders register for another five years, which is not a public list but a monitoring systen,
He can travel and go abroad, but must provide the police with prior notice.
He broke his silence on the upcoming Channel 5 drama this week, saying in a damning statement: “[They] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.
“They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response.
“They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.
“Channel 5’s ‘factual drama’ is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.”
He continued: “My deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court.
“In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions.
“I am making an effort to produce my own account of these terrible events.
“This is a slow process, given the fragile state of my health. have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years.
“What is less well known is the severity of that condition, which was managed successfully until the downward spiral which led to an appalling outcome.”
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A 5 spokesperson said in response: “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.
“It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code.
“All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”
Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards airs on Channel 5 on Tuesday, March 24 at 9pm.
Will you be watching the new Channel 5 show when it airs? Let us know in the comments.
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
READ MORE: Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
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An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
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