Martin Clunes is set to portray disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards in a new Channel 5 documentary, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, airing on March 24. The programme delves into the scandal that saw one of Britain's most trusted newsreaders become a figure of public contempt.
Edwards, who had been with the BBC for 40 years and earned nearly £500,000 annually, was at the peak of his career in early 2023. He had anchored major events including the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, in July 2023, The Sun reported that an unnamed BBC presenter had paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit photos, funding a crack cocaine habit. The BBC suspended Edwards on full pay and contacted the police.
The scandal deepened when it emerged Edwards had broken lockdown rules to meet a 23-year-old from a dating app, sending cash and receiving semi-naked images. Three BBC staff also reported uncomfortable messages from him. Concerns had been flagged in May 2023 but senior managers only learned of them in July, prompting a BBC apology and process changes.
On July 12, Edwards' wife, Vicky Flind, revealed his identity, citing his serious mental health issues and hospitalisation. Police initially found no evidence of wrongdoing regarding the Sun allegations, but on November 8, Edwards was arrested. Investigators seized a phone containing messages with convicted sex offender Alex Williams, who had sent 377 explicit images, including 41 of children, seven of which were Category A. Edwards had told Williams not to send underage images.
The documentary features interviews with those involved, including the Sun journalists who broke the story. It aims to chart the fall of a once-revered figure, from sympathy to shock, as the full extent of the scandal emerged.
