THE MET have confirmed that former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with making indecent images of children. The broadcaster, aged 62, faces three charges related to alleged activities between December 2020 and April 2022. Edwards, originally from Carmarthenshire, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, July 31.
Edwards was suspended from the BBC in July 2023 following claims that he paid thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. During his suspension, he remained on the payroll, which aligns with normal BBC policy. At the time, Edwards was reportedly dealing with serious mental health issues and received in-patient hospital care.
In April 2024, the BBC announced Edwards’ departure, stating it was “on the basis of medical advice from his doctors”. The BBC confirmed that no pay-off was given upon his departure. Edwards had been absent from screens since the story broke in July 2023.
The Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated, “Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation. The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.”
Edwards was one of the highest-paid journalists at the BBC, earning a salary between £435,000 and £440,000 per year before his resignation. He was arrested on November 8, 2023, and subsequently charged on June 26, 2024, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service. He has been bailed to appear in court.
The Metropolitan Police have issued a warning to the media and the public, reminding them that this is an active case and cautioning against publishing any information that could prejudice future court proceedings.
Edwards was a prominent figure at the BBC for decades, anchoring major events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Platinum Jubilee, and the funeral of Prince Philip. He joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984 and became one of the UK’s most recognisable news presenters. Despite his professional accolades, Edwards publicly shared his struggles with depression, which he said have left him bedridden at times since 2002
