Martin Clunes Reveals Initial Sympathy for Huw Edwards Before Scandal Truth
Actor Martin Clunes has disclosed that he initially felt sympathy for Huw Edwards, believing the BBC newsreader was being unfairly targeted by newspapers, before the true nature of the allegations became clear. Clunes, who is set to portray Edwards in the upcoming Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, described the shift in his perspective as the scandal unfolded.
From Sympathy to Shock: The Scandal Unfolds
Clunes, 64, explained that at first, the situation seemed like a typical media outing of a public figure. "You felt sympathy for him at first, because it just seemed like a person in the public eye was being outed in the newspapers," he said. "I can say from personal experience that newspapers only want to be nasty about people in the public eye." However, this changed dramatically when evidence emerged, including messages on Edwards's telephone, which Clunes described as "a whole different ballgame."
The scandal initially involved a report by The Sun in July 2023 alleging a "top BBC star" had paid a teenager for sexual images. Days later, Edwards's wife publicly named him, leading to a Metropolitan Police investigation. In June 2024, he was charged, and in July 2024, he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, admitting to possessing 41 photographs on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.
Preparing for the Role: Beyond the Public Persona
Clunes spoke about the challenges of portraying Edwards, moving beyond his well-known newsreading persona. "I was familiar with Huw Edwards the newsreader, and how he presented himself when he was reading the news," he said. "But I've seen other actors make the mistake of just inhabiting that projected face of a famous person or politician – I knew that we needed the other side of him too."
He noted the difficulty in finding archive footage of Edwards outside his professional duties but observed a distinct difference. "I noticed from looking at that archive that he was different when he wasn't reading the news, and I wanted to make that distinction. If you listen to his rhythms, he's far more Welsh when he's not newsreading."
Acting Approach: Avoiding Judgment and Finding Character
Clunes emphasised his method for tackling such a complex role, stating that judgment should be avoided. "I certainly don't think you should ever be judging a character you're playing, you just have to find ways to get into character," he explained. He drew on personal experiences to connect with the role, adding, "I'm not attracted to men, but I'm attracted to women, so I know what it feels like to be attracted. Then sometimes with acting you just have to jump off the cliff and hope you land well – you don't want everything to feel measured and calculated."
The Drama and Its Broader Context
The drama, directed by Bafta and Emmy-winning Michael Samuels, will delve into the events surrounding Edwards's downfall. It will also feature Welsh actor Osian Morgan as Ryan, a character contacted by Edwards in the film. Edwards, once one of the BBC's highest-paid newsreaders, was a familiar face on News At Ten for decades, delivering major stories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Clunes recounted the initial confusion during the scandal, when numerous BBC presenters denied involvement before Edwards was eventually named. "It was weird at the time because they wouldn't name him, so lots of BBC presenters kept saying it wasn't them, and it caught fire, and then it was a surprise when Huw Edwards was named," he said.
Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is scheduled to air on Tuesday, March 24, at 9pm on Channel 5, offering a dramatised exploration of this high-profile case that shook the British media landscape.
