Huw Edwards’ broadcasting career ends in disgrace

In 2021, Edwards made a Welsh-language documentary about his career, during which he revealed he had suffered bouts of depression, external over 20 years, and had been left “bedridden” by his struggle with his mental health.

A distinguished career at the BBC was ultimately brought to an end after the Sun published allegations last summer that an unnamed BBC presenter had paid large sums of money for explicit images of an individual.

There were days of speculation about who the presenter might be and over the following days, the Sun, and later BBC News, released further allegations, keeping the story in the headlines.

Finally, on 13 July 2023, Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind confirmed his identity on his behalf, saying she was doing so “primarily out of concern for his mental well-being” and to protect their five children.

“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues,” she said. “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.”

He never made that statement.

Edwards was arrested in November on charges that are separate from the summer 2023 case.

The court was told on Wednesday that police had discovered the former newsreader was sent 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children, by another man on WhatsApp.

He hasn’t yet been sentenced.

His barrister said he was previously “of exceptional character” and had “both mental and physical” health issues.

But his guilty pleas mean his distinguished career, and his reputation, are in tatters.