Susanna Reid and Ed Balls were left speechless during a tense interview with Huw Edwards' publicist, Barry Tomes, on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain. The appearance followed the broadcast of Channel 5 drama 'Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards', which sparked divided reactions from viewers.
Tomes stated that the former BBC presenter wants to tell his side of the story, but not yet. He said: 'He definitely wants to tell his side of the story... However, this programme suddenly appeared, and I think that triggered the need to respond earlier than he's ready.' Tomes also questioned the focus on the drama rather than understanding why the incident occurred, calling for a 'black box' investigation.
When asked if Edwards would return the £200,000 paid by the BBC between his arrest and resignation, Tomes replied: 'I wouldn't pay it back.' He argued that Edwards had a contract that was terminated and that legal proceedings had not been initiated. Reid expressed surprise at this stance.
Viewers described the interview as a 'car crash', with one saying: 'The Interview with Barry Tomes... was just bizarre.' Another added: 'This is a car crash. Baz is having a nightmare here.' However, some defended Tomes, suggesting his aim was to understand the reasons behind Edwards' actions.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Edwards criticised the drama, claiming it made 'no attempt to check with me the truth' and that it was 'hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened'.
