Huw Edwards ‘tried to groom teenager by providing him a private tour of BBC HQ after seeing him carry out in his faculty uniform’, documentary claims
Shamed newsreader Huw Edwards tried to groom a teenage musician after seeing him perform in his school uniform and offered him a personal tour of the BBC, according to a new documentary.
In a new claim of predatory behaviour by the former BBC News at 10 presenter – spared jail after admitting making indecent images of children – is said to have asked the starstruck sixth former to follow him on Instagram.
Edwards, now 63, then promised to help his music career and sent him suggestive messages calling him ‘babe’ and ‘big boy’ littered with hearts and kisses, the youngster – referred to as Emyr – claimed yesterday.
The former face of the BBC is alleged to have invited the student – then aged just 18 – on a personal tour of the newsroom in London as part of a pattern of what he now sees as ‘grooming’ behaviour.
Emyr has now blasted BBC bosses for allowing Edwards a free rein and not having further checks in place for visitors’ safety.
Speaking to Welsh language broadcaster S4C’s programme Y Byd ar Bedwar, Emyr said: ‘People like him believe they can do whatever they want, and abuse their power.’
Emyr said he was performing in his school uniform at a community concert where Edwards was the compère.
‘He came up to me at the end of the night to say hello,’ he told documentary-makers.
A young man known as Emyr – not his real name – has told a new TV investigation into Huw Edwards that the disgraced broadcaster sent him sexually suggestive messages on Instagram
Huw Edwards, 63, once one of the BBC’s most respected broadcasters, is seen here in his police mugshot – released after he pleaded guilty to making images of child sexual abuse
‘He said that the performance was good, that I was very talented and that he wanted to connect with me.’
Emyr alleges that Edwards told him to follow him on Instagram and that he could help him with his music career, telling the programme: ‘He asked me if I wanted to meet him in London and have a tour of the BBC, where I could meet a few contacts.’
Awestruck Emyr – not his real name – accepted the invitation and was given a personal tour of the newsroom.
Edwards introduced him to BBC colleagues as a ‘friend’ who had a ‘musical talent’ and Emyr said he was promised opportunities to perform at concerts in London – but this never happened as they messaged back and forth on Instagram.
In those messages, the broadcaster – almost 40 years older than Emyr – would send kisses and hearts emojis in his messages, as well as calling him ‘babe’ and ‘big boy’.
Emyr initially thought Edwards’ language was ‘banterous’ but later realised it was something more sinister.
‘He was trying to flirt. It was some sort of grooming communication,’ he said.
But after a few months and Emyr not returning the flirtatious messages their communication stopped and Edwards unfollowed him.
Edwards was previously anchor of BBC1’s News At Ten and one of Britain’s most prominent newsreaders before his arrest and conviction
Edwards is seen in a court artist picture standing and listening to judge Paul Goldspring delivering his sentencing remarks at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in September this year
Huw Edwards leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his legal team following his sentencing , having received a suspended six-month sentence on September 16
Emyr said: ‘He just lost interest in me. I don’t think I gave him what he was looking for.’
Emyr believes that the broadcaster abused the power he held as one of the BBC’s most prominent presenters.
‘I feel very sad for the people who have been affected worse than me. I feel lucky in a way. It’s completely disgusting.’
Emyr said he didn’t remember anyone at the BBC challenging him or Edwards on what he was doing in the newsroom.
‘There should be some sort of procedure or professional reason for someone to enter the building,’ he added.
Edwards did not respond to S4C’s request for a response.
In September he was given a six-month suspended jail sentence after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children.
Emyr’s allegations are not associated with the criminal case.
Huw Edwards is seen arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 31 this year, before pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children
The anchor’s career involved breaking the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death both Prince William and Prince Harry’s weddings – he is pictured here with Justin Welby on May 6, 2023
In July last year Edwards faced allegations that had paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexual images.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We have been clear that we are appalled by Huw Edwards’ crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.
‘A Board-commissioned independent review of the BBC’s workplace culture is currently underway, with a particular focus on preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the BBC conducts themselves in line with our values.
‘The BBC has robust safeguarding policies and processes in place. If people contact us directly with concerns about our protocols we will look at these carefully, in line with the BBC’s Complaints Framework.’
Watch the full programme on Huw Edwards on ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar’ on S4C on Monday at 8pm. English subtitles available. The programme will be able to watch on BBCiPlayer and S4C Clic.
Full timeline of Huw Edwards’ downfall
March 2023
Edwards announcing the news of Her Majesty’s death to the nation in September 2022
Huw Edwards signs new three-year deal with the BBC after praise for the way he led coverage of the Queen’s death.
It came after he was seen at the offices of the BBC’s biggest radio rival – Global – in August 2022. The News at Ten veteran admitted at the time he was ‘thinking about my future’.
In June that year he would pick up the best live event honour at the Tric Awards for being among those to cover the state funeral of the late Queen, and in February he received the Broadcast Awards’ special recognition award.
April 2023
Police were contacted but ‘no criminality was identified’.
May 6, 2023
Edwards hosts coverage of King Charles’ coronation as he lead the BBC broadcast of the historic event.
May 18, 2023
A family member of the young person, who was 17 at the time, made an in-person complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter.
May 19, 2023
A complainant contacted the BBC in a 29-minute call to the BBC’s audience services team, and the details were referred to the Corporate Investigations Team.
The family member reportedly asked the broadcaster to stop sending their family member cash.
The Corporate Investigations Team decided the complaint didn’t include an allegation of criminality, but merited more investigation.
The investigators email the complainant to get more information but they get no response.
June 6, 2023
After getting no reply to the email, the Corporate Investigations Team tries to call the complainant but the call does not connect.
However, the Sun reported later that the family said no one from the corporation phoned them for a proper interview after they complained.
The BBC said no more attempts to contact the family were made after this date, but that the case ‘remained open’.
July 5, 2023
Edwards is seen on screen for what would be the last time before the scandal became public, when he covered King Charles’ visit to Scotland
Huw Edwards is seen for the last time on the BBC as he covered King Charles’ visit to Scotland.
July 6, 2023
The Sun informs BBC Press Office about allegations against the star presenter.
The BBC launches an ‘incident management group’ of top executives after becoming aware of new allegations ‘of a different nature’ against the presenter.
It is the first time Mr Davie or any executive directors were made aware of the case, according to the BBC.
A senior manager holds the first conversation with the presenter concerned.
It is agreed he should not appear on air while the allegations are investigated.
July 7, 2023
The Sun published its exclusive which alleged that a BBC presenter, unnamed at the time, paid a total of £35,000 for sexual content to someone beginning when they were 17.
But a lawyer acting on behalf of the young person told The Sun that evening there was ‘no truth’ to the claims.
The BBC said it would investigate and it made contact with the Metropolitan Police.
July 8, 2023
The complainant sends the BBC ‘materials related to the complaint’.
There is a frenzy of speculation about the identity of the star. Gary Lineker, Jeremy Vine, Rylan Clark and Nicky Campbell all feel obliged to deny that they were the man in question.
July 9, 2023
A mocked up version of a reported Instagram message exchange between Edwards and a teenager
The BBC confirms that a male presenter has been suspended from all duties.
The Sun reports that the presenter allegedly made two phone calls to the young person and pleaded with them to call their mother to stop the investigation.
July 10, 2023
BBC representatives and Metropolitan Police detectives meet in the morning to discover if any crimes have been committed.
The young person claims through a lawyer that the allegations are ‘rubbish’.
In response, the Sun said it had ‘reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child’.
The parents stood by their account to the Sun and the stepfather was quoted in a story saying the allegations were originally put the the BBC ‘for an hour’.
July 11, 2023
Director-general Tim Davie sends an internal email to staff reiterating that the BBC is taking the allegations ‘incredibly seriously’
Director-general of the BBC Tim Davie defends the delay in speaking to the BBC presenter.
But the BBC admits there were ‘lessons to be learned’ prompting a boss to assess the protocols.
In the afternoon, new claims emerged from the BBC that the presenter sent threatening messages to a second young person.
It is claimed they met on a dating app, before the conversation moved to other platforms where the presenter revealed his identity.
He then allegedly sent a number of ‘threatening messages’ to the youngster, which the BBC has seen.
The Sun reported the star is also accused of breaking lockdown rules to meet a 23-year-old stranger from a dating site.
July 12, 2023
Huw Edwards pictured with his wife Vicky Find in South London in 2018. She has since separated from the former broadcaster in the wake of his recent scandals
Huw Edwards is revealed as the BBC presented by his wife Vicky Flind.
She said he was ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’.
The bombshell revelation came just moments after the police said they were ‘taking no further action’ in the case.
But BBC boss Mr Davie sent an email to staff informing them that an internal investigation would continue even though police were no longer involved.
The BBC reported fresh allegations from two current junior members of staff and one former member of staff who claim they were sent messages that made them uncomfortable.
July 12, 2023
Mr Davie asked for a second review of the BBC’s complaints protocols after it was revealed the family were only contacted twice by the corporation – despite the seriousness of the allegations.
November 8, 2023
Edwards is arrested, but tells noone.
Later speaking to MailOnline, one shocked former colleague and friend said: ‘Huw kept his arrest completely secret’.
They added: ‘It turns out he was arrested four months later and nobody knew. I had no idea until he was charged.’
February 27, 2024
The BBC apologised to the young person’s family, who’d complained about Edwards two months before he was suspended.
An independent report by Deloitte is published into the BBC’s complaints handling procedure
The publicly-funded broadcaster acknowledged that there had been ‘shortcomings’ in the way it had dealt with the case as it reviewed its complaints procedures.
April, 2024
Edwards took sanctuary in his beloved Wales and was being comforted in Carmarthenshire by his mother Aerona.
April 22, 2024
Edwards resigns from the BBC.
Broadcasting executive Stewart Purvis CBE said there is ‘relief across the BBC’ that the ‘extraordinarily damaging saga’ has been resolved.
He added that Edwards having ‘walked from the BBC’ will be viewed as ‘quite a successful outcome’ for the corporation.
June 26, 2024
Edwards is charged with the possession of indecent images of children.
Interrupting coverage of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement in the House of Commons, the BBC announced the breaking news on July 29.
According to the charge sheet, he was accused of having six category A images, 12 category B pictures and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp.
July 23, 2024
The BBC’s annual report reveals Edwards was paid between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials and other television programming.
This salary marked an increase from 2022/23, when he was paid between £435,000 and £439,999 for 180 days presenting on BBC One, as well as news specials.
This was despite him being absent from screens from when the story first broke in July last year until his exit nine months later in April 2024.
But he stayed on the payroll while suspended, which is normal BBC policy, and was suffering from serious mental health issues and received in-patient hospital care.
The BBC confirmed at the time of his departure that he had not received a pay-off and was leaving ‘on the basis of medical advice from his doctors’.
Director general Tim Davie defended the pay and the rise, confirming there was ‘no settlement payment.’ He also said he was not going to ‘get into who’s spoken to who’ when asked if he had spoken to Edwards since his resignation.
July 31, 2024
Edwards remained silent as he left the court building surrounded by the press today
Edwards pleads guilty to making 41 indecent images of children – and faces jail.
The newscaster admitted he kept seven category ‘A’ images of the very worst kind on his phone after being sent them on WhatsApp by a paedophile.
The sick child porn images showed youngsters aged between seven and 14, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
He remained emotionless as he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, between December 2020 and August 2022.
His admission now leaves the former news star’s glittering four-decade career in tatters.
September 16, 2024
Edwards is sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
