Prominent BBC presenter Huw Edwards is in hospital with "serious mental health issues," according to a statement from his wife Vicky Flind.
She confirmed that Edwards is the individual at the centre of allegations previously reported in The Sun, which claimed he paid a young person for sexually explicit images.
Flind issued the statement after five days of mounting speculation, primarily to safeguard Edwards's mental health and to protect their children. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that Edwards, 61, will not face any legal action. The family has stated that Edwards intends to personally address these allegations once he is in a condition to do so.
In her statement, Flind explained, "Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years. The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future."
Despite allegations, the Met's Specialist Crime Command has concluded that no criminal offence has been committed. The decision was made after consulting various parties, including the BBC, the alleged complainant, and the complainant's family. The statement further clarified that while the Met is aware of additional allegations made in the media, no specific details have been received, and hence no further police action is planned at this time.
In the wake of the police statement, the BBC has confirmed it will resume its internal investigations into the matter. A BBC spokesperson thanked the police for their swift handling of the matter, pledging a thorough assessment of the facts and emphasizing the corporation's duty of care towards all involved parties.
Edwards has been a part of the BBC since the 1980s, climbing up from a trainee to one of the most recognizable faces of BBC News. His notable roles include anchoring the Ten O'Clock News and covering significant events like elections and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The initial allegations surfaced last Friday, suggesting that Edwards had paid a young individual for explicit photographs, starting when the person was 17 years old. The source of these allegations was the person's mother and stepfather, though a lawyer's letter on behalf of the young person has dismissed their account as "rubbish."
In response to these claims, another police force found "no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed," after conducting additional inquiries. Further allegations of Edwards sending abusive messages and violating
Covid lockdown rules in 2021 have also been reported, but the BBC has not been able to verify these.
The absence of an official identification earlier led to rampant speculation on social media, resulting in the wrongful implication of other male BBC presenters. BBC News has now included Edwards's name in its coverage, in line with his wife's statement that permits his identification.
This situation raises broader questions about privacy and journalistic integrity, as some critics argue that the case has received a degree of protection not typically afforded in similar circumstances. The BBC's decision to ask for Edwards's wife's permission before publicly identifying him has sparked debate over whether such consideration extends to all cases involving allegations of this nature.
