Huw Edwards ‘unfit’ for talks about future six months after suspension

BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards stays ‘unfit’ to carry talks about his future – six months after being suspended over allegations he exchanged sexual photos to a young person.

The 62-year-old newsreader was suspended in July over claims he paid hundreds of kilos to the teenager for sexually express pictures and in addition gave them cash.

The Sun sparked a five-day media frenzy when it revealed a narrative {that a} ‘family’ title male presenter had allegedly paid {the teenager} greater than £35,000 for the inappropriate pictures over a three-year interval, relationship again to when the youth was 17.

Edwards, who was final on display on July 5, was named because the presenter on the centre of the scandal by his spouse, Vicky Flind, in a shock assertion on his behalf. 

She revealed that the father-of-five was in hospital after struggling a ‘severe episode’, declaring: ‘I’m doing this primarily out of concern for his psychological well-being and to guard our youngsters’. 

Flind, who additionally works in TV, stated Edwards was receiving in-patient care and would stay their ‘for the foreseeable future’, including that he would reply to the allegations when he had recovered.

BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards (pictured in 2020) stays ‘unfit’ to carry talks about his future – six months after being suspended over a string of allegations

Edwards (pictured in April 2023), who was final on display on July 5, was named because the presenter on the centre of the scandal by his spouse, Vicky Flind, in a shock assertion on his behalf

The Times studies that Edwards, who has struggled with psychological sickness prior to now, has not but recovered, though it’s unclear if he stays in hospital.

While it’s not anticipated Edwards will return to his £439,000-a-year function on the Corporation, senior BBC bosses have been unable to exchange him throughout his suspension.

It comes because the BBC readies itself for a busy yr of stories which incorporates a number of elections, large sporting occasions and the continuing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Incoming BBC chairman Samir Shah, made this level to MPs forward of his appointment.

He stated: ‘Next yr is more likely to be election yr. It is BBC journalism’s World Cup . . . We should be match match. We must have discovered every part from studio debates to allocation of airtime.’

One of Edwards’ longstanding colleagues informed The Times that the BBC can be eager to resolve the scenario quickly.

‘Things have been dragging on for six months now and so they nonetheless have not been in a position to make any progress,’ they stated.

Another informed the newspaper: ‘There had been snap elections in 2017 and 2019 which we did not see coming and we simply obtained on and did it. We have numerous excellent folks.’

Clive Myrie, 59, has been tipped because the information presenter who may entrance the BBC’s election protection and succeed Edwards because the News at Ten anchor.

Sophie Raworth, Laura Kuenssberg and Nick Robinson are additionally in competition to host election evening.

Huw Edwards is the best paid journalist on the BBC and led the nation by means of Queen Elizabeth II’s loss of life

Last month, Scotland Yard confronted a secrecy row after refusing to say whether or not its officers are nonetheless investigating Edwards.

The teenager’s mom and stepfather complained to police in April, however three months later detectives declared that no crime had been dedicated.

Having paused an inner inquiry whereas the police evaluation was carried out, the BBC promised in July to ‘transfer ahead’ with its investigation.

But the company is but to conclude its inquiries, prompting hypothesis that there could also be ongoing issues to evaluate.

Last month, the Metropolitan Police was requested whether or not detectives had been nonetheless assessing any allegations, however the drive declined to reply.

Under College of Policing tips, forces routinely reply to media inquiries when requested if there’s an replace to an current policing matter.

The nationwide steerage states: ‘As an investigation or different policing exercise continues, officers and communications employees ought to repeatedly overview the knowledge that has been launched and take into account whether it is acceptable to launch extra data.’

But when requested whether or not officers had been nonetheless conducting any inquiries into Mr Edwards, a Scotland Yard spokesman refused to reply, saying: ‘We usually are not in a position to reply your question on the knowledge you’ve gotten offered to us.’

A BBC spokesperson stated: ‘As we now have beforehand stated, we won’t be discussing issues pertaining to Huw Edwards, and we might urge folks to not take pleasure in hypothesis.’