Disgraced former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has sparked outrage after entering a poetry competition at Wales's largest cultural festival under a false name. The 64-year-old, convicted in 2024 for making indecent images of children, competed in the National Eisteddfod's Crown contest using the pseudonym Y Gelyn, which translates to The Enemy.
Competition Entry and Backlash
Edwards entered the contest with a poem paying tribute to his late father, which referenced "our dark condition." The competition offered a £750 cash prize, but his entry did not win. The news of his participation has drawn sharp criticism from various figures, including actress Sera Cracroft, who said she was "very disappointed he's done that so soon after being convicted of creating paedophilia online."
Cracroft, who has previously spoken about being a victim of child abuse, added that it was "far too soon for him to try and redeem himself" and that it would have been "catastrophic" had he won. Another individual, reported by The Sun as a victim of inappropriate messages from Edwards, blasted: "Has this man no shame? After everything he has done, he should just disappear."
Political and Public Reaction
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin also condemned the move, stating that by taking part, even anonymously, Edwards had shown a total lack of self-awareness and gross insensitivity. She added: "Rather than trying to resurrect his career, his time would be better spent reflecting on his dreadful crimes."
According to The Sun, Edwards's poem is said to have opened with the words: "A wayward son, in the torment of his hell."
Previous Career Revival Attempt
This is Edwards's second attempt to revive his career. In June, he joined the subscription-based publishing platform Substack, promising "honesty" and announcing that his articles would "offer thoughts on matters of national and local interest" and "address mental health." He told potential readers: "I am also ready to be unflinchingly honest about the reality of long-term mental illness." Despite most creators charging for access, he said he had "no plans for paid subscriptions."
