Huw Edwards was today named by his own wife as the BBC star accused of paying £35,000 to a vulnerable teenager in return for explicit photographs – minutes after Scotland Yard dropped their probe into the allegations.
Vicky Flind issued the shock statement and revealed her husband, 61, was ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’ following the claims that emerged in The Sun six days ago.
Ms Flind, who also works in TV, said the father-of-five is ‘now receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future’ as she asked for privacy for her family, declaring: ‘I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children’.
She added: ‘I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end. Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published’.
Her statement was released at 6pm – but there was confusion as the BBC first said Mr Edwards, who recently led coverage of the Queen’s death and King Charles’ Coronation, had resigned from his role as their top newsreader.
But minutes later the corporation clarified that he had not quit. Sources close to the star have since stressed that he has not left the corporation.
The Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police both said this evening that no criminal offence had been committed by the presenter. The BBC had paused its internal probe into the claims Mr Edwards paid the teenager for explicit pictures – and that investigation will now continue.
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards has been named by his wife Vicky Flind as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images
In a statement released by Mr Edward’s wife Vicky Flind, she said that he was receiving in-patient hospital care
The BBC’s top presenter is currently facing four separate allegations. These including paying a young person around £35,000 for sexually explicit photos over a three year period, breaking stay-at-home lockdown rules to meet another young person, sending messages to a 17-year-old with love hearts and kisses and sending threatening messages to a person in their early twenties who he met on a dating app.
READ IN FULL: Statement from Vicky Flind about her husband Huw Edwards
Here is the statement in full from Vicky Flind, wife of Huw Edwards:
‘In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
‘Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
‘The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
‘Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.
‘To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
‘In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.
‘I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.’
It comes as the Metropolitan Police said this evening that no criminal offence has been committed by the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
Ms Flind said this evening: ‘In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.
‘I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
‘Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
‘The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
‘Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.’
She said that Mr Edwards was first told of the allegations being made against him last Thursday.
‘In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected’, the presenter’s wife added.
‘I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.’
It comes as a fourth young person came forward today to air allegations about the presenter.
Mr Edwards, 61, is one of the corporation’s most high-profile newsreaders, being paid over £430,000 on his current salary.
He was presented the flagship BBC News at Ten programme for more than 10 years, and continued to report more than a dozen times since the claims were allegedly first reported to the corporation on May 19.
Mr Edwards’ was facing increasing pressure from his colleagues to step forward, after BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine called on the presenter to identify himself to stop other BBC stars from being defamed.
Mr Vine said today: ‘He should now come forward publicly. These new allegations will result in yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues of his. And the BBC, which I’m sure he loves, is on its knees with this.’
Meanwhile former BBC presenter Jon Sopel weighed in on the row yesterday afternoon – before the fourth person made their allegations – to reveal the unnamed star is ‘extremely angry’ over how the claims had been covered.
The broadcaster, 61, announced the news for the BBC that the Queen had died in September 2022
Edwards, a married father-of-five, has worked at the BBC for four decades. He has spoken openly about his mental health and getting fitter in recent years
The presenter shared with BBC Radio Cymru that he had lost weight in 2019
The Met Police said in as statement this evening: ‘Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed.
‘In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force. There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.
‘We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual.
‘No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.
‘Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force.’
A spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. We’re grateful to them for completing this work at speed.
‘The police had previously asked us to pause our fact finding investigations and we will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.’
South Wales Police confirmed it had also been looking at the case.
The force said in a statement: ‘South Wales Police has remained in contact with representatives of the Metropolitan Police and the BBC following a meeting on Monday.
‘Information was initially received by the force in April 2023 regarding the welfare of an adult. No criminality was identified.
‘Following recent events, further enquiries have been carried out and officers have spoken to a number of parties to establish whether any criminal allegations are being made.
‘At this time, there is no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed. There are no ongoing enquiries being carried out by South Wales Police.
‘However, should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point in future then they will be investigated.’
Edwards, who was born in Bridgend and brought up in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984. Pictured on the six o’clock news in 1999