Disgraced former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards is facing a fierce backlash after announcing the launch of his own Substack newsletter, three years after his last broadcast. The 64-year-old, who was sacked from the BBC and handed a six-month suspended sentence for making indecent images of children, said he wants to make a “positive contribution” around mental health and rebuild “some kind of worthwhile life”.
Edwards' Announcement and Public Reaction
In his Substack post, Edwards wrote: “There will be some who do not wish to read my work, and I respect that choice. But for those who might be interested, I would like to start tentatively by offering some commentary and analysis based on my long experience.” He plans to release weekly posts covering politics, media, journalism, culture, and the criminal justice system, drawing on his own experiences with mental illness.
However, the move has angered many. One social media user fumed: “No mention of his crimes, other than to suggest his mental health issues are what led him to offend. Disgraceful.” Another added: “I don't know what's worse – convicted sex offender Huw Edwards launches his own Substack page or that 65 people have subscribed to it.”
Details of Edwards' Conviction
Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, admitting to possessing 41 indecent images. Seven of those were classed as category A, the most serious, including two images of victims aged seven to nine years old. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended, and was sacked by the BBC in 2024.
In his newsletter, Edwards stated: “I am also ready to be unflinchingly honest about the reality of long-term mental illness, and the continued failure to recognise its devastating effects on affected individuals, their families and friends. If my posts help others facing similar challenges, so much the better.”
Future Plans and Documentary
The launch comes after Edwards reportedly expressed readiness to “state his case” in a new documentary, following a Channel 5 dramatisation titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards that aired in March. Edwards criticised that programme as a “one-sided account”. He said: “Other opportunities will arise later this year for me to state my case and to challenge the misleading or fabricated claims made in recent coverage. Serious questions still remain to be answered, and not just by me.”
