Former BBC News Presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, as reported by the local newspaper. The charges are related to images shared on a WhatsApp chat between December 2020 and April 2022. Edwards, who left the BBC in April after spending 40 years at the corporation, was the highest paid newsreader at the time of his resignation, earning a salary of £435,000-£439,999 in the year 2022-23.
The 62-year-old Edwards, who resides in Southwark, London, was arrested on 8 November 2023 after an investigation by the Met police. He was charged on Wednesday 26 June following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service and has been bailed to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday 31 July.
It is important to note that this is an active case, and the media and the public are urged not to publish anything, including on social media, that could prejudice future court proceedings, as stated by a Met spokesperson.
Edwards, born in Bridgend, south Wales, in 1961, began his career as a reporter for the local radio station Swansea Sound before joining the BBC as a news trainee in 1984. He later became a parliamentary correspondent for BBC Wales and started presenting the national Six O’Clock News in 1994.
Throughout his career, Edwards became a prominent figure in the BBC’s coverage of major political and royal events. He notably announced Queen Elizabeth II’s death on the BBC on 8 September 2022 and presented coverage of her funeral later that month. He also anchored the broadcast of King Charles III’s coronation the following year.
Having served as a Westminster correspondent for 13 years, Edwards played a crucial role in the BBC’s political reporting, taking over election coverage from the long-serving David Dimbleby in 2019. Reflecting on his journey, Edwards shared with the Radio Times his long-held aspiration to take on such a role since 1992 when a senior BBC manager first presented the opportunity to him.
As the case unfolds and developments continue to arise, it is essential to respect the legal process and allow for a fair trial without any prejudicial information being circulated. The allegations against Huw Edwards are serious, and the legal system will determine the appropriate course of action moving forward.
