Huw Edwards named as BBC anchor accused of paying teen for explicit pictures

LONDON — Huw Edwards, the TV anchor of BBC, has been identified by his wife as the individual accused of paying a teenager over £35,000 (about $45,430) in exchange for sexually explicit photos. The alleged payments are reported to have commenced when the teenager was 17 years old, and they are now 20, according to a report in The Sun newspaper. After a turbulent five days for the British broadcaster, Huw Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, has released a statement.

In her statement to the PA news agency, she said, “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.”

Flind also mentioned that Huw Edwards is currently receiving in-patient hospital care for his mental health issues and intends to respond to the published stories once he is well enough.

The story gained traction earlier this week when the BBC reported receiving a complaint from a lawyer representing the teenager, who stated that the allegations were baseless. The lawyer affirmed that nothing inappropriate or unlawful had taken place. While the age of consent in England and Wales is 16, the law considers under-18s as children when it comes to indecent images.

On Wednesday afternoon, just before Edwards was named by his wife, the Metropolitan Police of London concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal offense. The Sun newspaper stated that it will cooperate with the BBC’s internal investigation process and does not have any plans to publish further allegations.

The Sun emphasized that its initial story was focused on concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behavior of a presenter and the payments from him that enabled a young person’s drug habit. The parents had already approached the police, who were unable to assist. The parents then escalated the matter to the BBC, but no action was taken. The responsibility now rests with the BBC to conduct a proper investigation.

Timeline of major developments

When contacted for comment, the BBC referred CNBC to a timeline of events on its website. According to the BBC, upon receiving the complaint on May 19, its Corporate Investigations Team assessed the information provided and decided that although it did not include an allegation of criminality, it warranted further investigation. The BBC made attempts to contact the complainant in May and June but did not receive a response.

The Sun contacted the BBC on July 6 with new allegations, which were brought to the attention of the TV anchor on the same day. The BBC reached out to both the complainant and the police on July 7, and the anchor was suspended on July 9.

Speculation and the law

The reports led to intense speculation on social media regarding the identity of the anchor, causing several high-profile BBC stars to distance themselves from the allegations. In addition to the serious nature of the allegations, there could be significant legal consequences in terms of defamation and privacy laws.

Matthew Gill, a senior associate and media disputes lawyer at London-based law firm Howard Kennedy, explained the potential legal ramifications. He stated that individuals who make allegations on social media, including those associated with the BBC presenters mentioned in these allegations, may face personal liability if the allegations are proven to be untrue. Such individuals could be subject to legal action, resulting in significant damages and costs.

Gill also noted that individuals who initially posted the name of a celebrity online may face legal proceedings, particularly if they were the first to associate the celebrity’s name with these allegations. Furthermore, individuals who attempt to wrongly link presenters to these allegations may face legal consequences as well.