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The BBC has resumed its investigation into Huw Edwards after the newsreader was identified by his wife as the BBC presenter at the heart of a sex scandal
The family of Huw Edwards are receiving crisis management advice from former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, it has been reported.
David Cameron’s former Downing Street communications chief, who was jailed for phone hacking in 2014, is understood to have helped the broadcaster’s wife, Vicky Flind, in releasing the statement that named Mr Edwards as the figure at the centre of the BBC scandal.
It comes after former BBC journalists criticised the broadcaster’s coverage of the allegations against the newsreader, branding it a “disgrace” and “distasteful”.
Speaking on their podcast The News Agents, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel questioned why staff had not informed HR of the claims after it was reported that BBC journalists were already working on a potential expose about Mr Edwaeds, before The Sun published claims about him allegedly paying a teenager for sexually explicit images.
The 61-year-old is receiving treatment in hospital for his mental health. Meanwhile, police concluded no criminal offence had been committed by Mr Edwards, allowing an internal BBC investigation into the scandal to resume.
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Who is Huw Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind?
His wife Vicky Flind named him as the suspended TV star and said that her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was receiving treatment in hospital, where he would remain “for the foreseeable future”.
Holly Evans14 July 2023 17:20
Ex-News of the World editor advising presenter’s family
The former News of the World editor who was jailed on phone hacking charges is giving crisis management advice to the family of Huw Edwards over claims made in The Sun newspaper, the i has reported.
Andy Coulson, the former Downing Street communications chief to David Cameron, is understood to have assisted with the statement Mr Edwards’s wife Vicky Flind gave which named him as the TV star at the centre of the controversy.
Coulson served five months of an 18-month prison term imposed in 2014 after he was convicted of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an Old Bailey trial.
It is not known whether Coulson has spoken directly to Edwards, who has separately engaged lawyers to handle the allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him.
Andy Coulson was jailed in 2014 for hacking phones while he was the editor of the News of the World
(PA)
Holly Evans14 July 2023 16:04
A former BBC journalist revealed that Huw Edwards had been feeling “very angry” about the allegations made in The Sun, prior to his hospitalisation.
Speaking to GMB hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard on Thursday, Jon Sopel told them: “We’ve had contact, obviously not since he has been hospitalised. He was very angry, I think he felt very let down by what had happened in The Sun, he was furious with their coverage. Not overly impressed with the BBC’s coverage either. Anyone that knows him is just wishing him well.
“He is incredibly funny, has got an acid wit. He can be a complicated person to deal with. If you’re entering Huw’s orbit he’s very defensive of his own territory.”
He added: “If it is there is no question of illegality, no question of sexual assault, things might change but as things stand now, there’s been no illegality, there’s been no abuse of power as far as I can see, so therefore I think what is it to do with anybody?”
Holly Evans14 July 2023 15:30
Huw Edwards has well-documented history of mental health issues
In 2022, Huw Edwards spoke out about how suffering from depression has affected his life and career, sharing that the condition has occasionally left him unable to leave his bed.
In the interview, the BBC News at Ten anchor openly discussed his 20-year long mental health struggles.
Holly Evans14 July 2023 14:39
Parents offered ‘tens of thousands’ for television interview, sources claim
The parents of a young person at the centre of the Huw Edwards controversy have reportedly been offered tens of thousands of pounds for a television interview.
According to The Guardian, an interview with the couple has been recorded and is being edited for broadcast on TalkTV, the sister station of The Sun.
Sources said that Rupert Murdoch’s News UK had offered a signifcant sum for the interview, but no payment has yet been made, with the parents reportedly taking part in a planned three-part documentary series.
The parents have claimed that their 20-year-old child was taken advantage of by Mr Edwards, who allegedly paid the young person £35,000 in return for explicit images.
Holly Evans14 July 2023 12:08
Mental health charity calls for Huw Edwards to be given ‘space to receive treatment’
Mental health charity Mind has called for Huw Edwards to be given “space to receive treatment” while he experiences “serious mental health problems”.
The 61-year-old presenter is a patron of a branch of the charity in Llanelli.
“As is well documented, Huw has been treated for severe depression in recent years. He has been very eloquent in talking about his mental health issues,” said the director of Mind Cymru, Susan O’Leary.
“Given these very challenging circumstances, he has asked that he and his family’s privacy be respected.
“We would like to stress that it is important that anybody experiencing serious mental health problems is given the appropriate space to receive the treatment they need.”
Holly Evans14 July 2023 10:04
Huw Edwards was in ‘high spirits’ at lunch before being told of shock allegations
A friend of Huw Edwards has said he initially did not believe the claims about the BBC presenter because they were “against everything I know about the man”.
Andrew Billen, a feature writer for The Times, had lunch with Edwards last Thursday and said that the TV star was in “high spirits” during the meal.
Their meeting was arranged just hours before the newsreader was informed of the allegations against him.
Mr Billen told Sky News the 61-year-old was “certainly not a man with a tremendous dark cloud hanging over him”.
Discussing the allegations, he said: “Personally speaking I was incredibly shocked. It flew against everything I thought I knew about the man.
“I didn’t believe it partly because I didn’t want to believe it.”
Holly Evans14 July 2023 09:34
‘This is a disgrace,’ says former BBC presenter
Describing the situation as a “disgrace”, former BBC North America editor Jon Sopel criticised a BBC Radio Four bulletin that broke the news of Mr Edwards’ hospitalisation before revealing fresh allegations.
“My own personal view is that this is a disgrace, if Huw walked in this room I’d give him a hug. It’s the first thing I’d do,” he said. “And by the way, the young person affected who I’m also very concerned about.”
Holly Evans14 July 2023 08:52
Emily Maitlis questions ‘distasteful’ BBC reporting
In a discussion on their podcast The News Agents, former BBC presenters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel questioned the broadcaster’s coverage of the allegations against Huw Edwards.
Describing it as “a bit distasteful”, Ms Maitlis questioned why BBC staff had not turned to HR if allegations had been made against him.
Mr Sopel added that sources within the BBC had informed him that there is “considerable disquiet” amongst staff, with many “distraught” at the coverage.
Hitting out at claims that Mr Edwards had sent flirtatious messages to staff, Ms Maitlis said: “Whilst you never want journalists to stop doing their job, you are in a weird place in that the way you raise a concern is not through a HR process, not through a complaints process but by breaking a story about them because they’re famous.”
Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis criticised the BBC’s coverage of Huw Edwards (Global/PA)
(PA Media)
Holly Evans14 July 2023 08:40
All the allegations made against BBC presenter
Suspended BBC presenter Huw Edwards is facing several allegations against him after being accused last week of paying a young person for sexually explicit photos.
Here are all the allegations made against the TV star:
Holly Evans14 July 2023 07:56
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