Janet Street Porter Condemns 'Pompous' Huw Edwards in Fiery This Morning Debate
Janet Street Porter launched a scathing attack on former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, branding him "pompous" and "up himself" during a heated discussion on ITV's This Morning. The debate centred on the new Channel 5 factual drama, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, which chronicles the real-life grooming scandal that led to Edwards' conviction.
The Downfall of a News Icon
The two-part series, which premiered on March 24, depicts how Edwards, once Britain's most respected news presenter, led a double life while earning £475,000 annually at the BBC. Edwards, who presented News at Ten for decades and announced major events including Queen Elizabeth II's death, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to making indecent images of children. He received a six-month suspended sentence in September 2024 after being suspended by the BBC in July 2023.
The drama explores how Edwards secretly groomed a vulnerable 17-year-old boy, with actor Martin Clunes, 64, portraying the Welsh anchorman. Edwards has criticised the production, telling the Daily Mail that Channel 5 "made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative" and that the drama is "hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened."
This Morning Panelists Clash Over Timing and Impact
Hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley invited panellists Janet Street Porter, 79, and Nick Ferrari to share their reactions. When Deeley asked if the drama was "too soon, or just right," Street Porter responded firmly: "I think it's just right. Obviously Huw Edwards has come out and said how shocked and disappointed he is... Now, obviously Huw Edwards has a chance to write an autobiography and to put his own views out in public but he has chosen not to."
She praised Martin Clunes as a "brilliant, brilliant actor" who will make the drama "really compelling," adding, "Personally, I'll be watching and I think we've managed to air a lot of true-life dramas in the last 20 years and this is just another one of them."
Nick Ferrari echoed her sentiments, stating, "I'm not that concerned with how Huw Edwards feels, I'm with Janet on this... if somebody watches this and realises they might be being drawn into a similar situation, or if someone watches this and is involved in that vile, illegal trade, then I think this sort of television programme is doing a public duty. I care not a jot [about Edwards], I care about the victims and the potential victims."
Street Porter's Personal Critique of Edwards
Janet Street Porter then intensified her criticism, recalling a personal anecdote: "He was incredibly pompous, he was such a pompous individual. One of my relatives was in a Welsh choir with him in South London, and I remember at one of my family member's funerals he said to me, 'Oh, that Huw Edwards, he's so up himself'. Do you know what I mean?"
Influencer Toy Debate Sparks Tension on This Morning
The discussion followed another contentious segment on This Morning, where co-stars Gyles Brandreth and Camilla Tominey clashed over a new influencer-themed toy set. The Chad Valley toy, sold by Argos for £15, encourages children as young as two to role-play filming videos and taking selfies.
Camilla Tominey, 47, criticised the set as "disturbing," saying, "I would rather little girls and boys had 'how to be a doctor' sets, there's a point where it seems rather vacuous." Gyles Brandreth, 78, countered, "I disagree completely. I think it's just a bit of fun... It's like any costume kit, you can be Batman, you can be a doctor, or you can be an influencer."
The debate turned personal when Brandreth pointed at Tominey and asked, "Well, what do you think that you are doing?" After she replied, "I'm a journalist," he retorted, "No, of course you are, of course you are... But what is a journalist but an influencer." He accused her of "intellectual snobbery," while she argued that reporting differs from "stirring in the ring light."
Viewers reacted strongly on social media, with one writing, "Gyles Brandreth handing Camilla Tominey her a**e on a plate by telling her she’s an influencer. She's raging... the shade he's throwing is excellent."
Backlash Against Influencer Toy
The toy has faced criticism from groups like Smartphone Free Childhood, whose co-founder Daisy Greenwell said, "Is anyone genuinely thinking this is what a two-year-old needs? We have to ask what we're teaching our children to aspire to. When we normalise the language and props of influencing in toddlerhood, we send the message that being watched matters more than being curious."
An Argos spokesman defended the product, stating, "We offer a broad selection of toy sets that encourage imaginative and creative play. This product is part of that wider range... designed to help children have fun."
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
