Yahoo News Huw Edwards: The BBC’s trusted voice for Britain's most historic moments
Huw Edwards has been named as the news presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images
Watch: Broadcaster Huw Edwards named by his wife as BBC presenter at centre of scandal
Veteran broadcaster Huw Edwards has been named by his wife as the BBC presenter who allegedly made payments for sexually explicit images.
In a statement, Vicky Flind said: “In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
Read more: Huw Edwards: Statement on BBC presenter from wife Vicky Flind in full
“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."
The Welsh newsreader, 61, who has worked for the BBC for 38 years, was suspended by the corporation last week.
Sources have made clear to the PA news agency that he has not resigned from the BBC.
Flind's statement comes as the Metropolitan Police said no criminal offence had been committed by the presenter.
South Wales Police then also issued a statement saying they had also investigated allegations and had found no evidence of any criminal offences being committed.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. We’re grateful to them for completing this work at speed.
“The police had previously asked us to pause our fact finding investigations and we will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.”
On Wednesday evening, The Sun said it had no plans to publish further allegations and said it will cooperate with the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team and internal investigation process.
Huw Edwards' career
Born in Bridgend, Edwards graduated with a first class degree in French from University College, Cardiff, in 1983, before becoming a reporter for local radio station Swansea Sound and then joining the BBC as a news trainee in 1984.
He landed the position of parliamentary correspondent for BBC Wales in 1986, becoming the BBC's youngest political correspondent at the age of 25.
A native Welsh speaker who has also presented numerous programmes and documentaries on TV and radio, Edwards went on to present the BBC Six O'Clock News between 1994 and 2003.
He went on to become a household name synonymous with the BBC's coverage of major news – he established himself as the face of the BBC's Royal Family coverage, having anchored their programming on the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Diamond and Platinum Jubilees of Elizabeth II, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 and the death of Prince Phillip two years ago.
HUW EDWARDS SCANDAL: READ MORE
Huw Edwards has spoken publicly in past of 20-year struggle with mental health (PA Media, 2-min read)
Huw Edwards scandal: 'An awful and shocking episode' - What friends and colleagues have said about presenter (Sky News, 3-min read)
BBC presenter scandal timeline as Huw Edwards revealed as suspended star (Independent, 5-min read)
In the past 12 months alone, he fronted the BBC's coverage of two more huge royal events – the death of Queen Elizabeth II (whose state funeral was watched by 26.2 million) and the coronation of King Charles III.
Also known for his political coverage, Edwards was a former chief political correspondent for BBC News and spent 14 years reporting from Westminster for the corporation.
In 2019, he took over from David Dimbleby as host of the BBC's election night, anchoring their coverage of the 2019 general election on 12 and 13 December.
Edwards became the main newsreader on the Ten O'Clock News – the BBC's flagship news show – in January 2003, and until his suspension was the lead presenter of its weekday bulletins.
The BBC revealed this week that Edwards is the corporation’s highest paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £435,000 – £439,999, up from £410,000 – £414,000 last year, putting him fourth on the list.
Huw Edwards' mental health
In the past year, Edwards has spoken candidly about his 20-year battle with depression, following his appearance in a 2021 documentary which detailed his mental health struggles.
Describing how his worst bouts of depression would leave him bedridden, the presenter said his anxiety as a result of depression would 'hit in a strong wave', then go away.
He told Men's Health UK in May 2022, he said: "I'm pretty clear that I have suffered – and do suffer – from depression.
"At least I now know when I'm going to enter a phase like that. Your mind goes into a place where you don't want to do anything. You can't make any decisions.
"Things that you usually enjoy, you dread. You come into work and obviously you do a professional job, but you're kind of pushing your way through it."
Who is Huw Edwards married to?
The BBC presenter is married to Vicky Flind, a TV producer who's worked on This Week, Peston and Britain's Next Prime Minister.
The couple live in Dulwich, south London, and have five grown-up children.
Describing his relationship with his children, Edwards said: 'There’s a principle that your youngest child gets a far better crack of the whip than your eldest.
"All your anxieties and inexperience and cluelessness as a parent are taken out on your eldest child. By the time you get to your youngest, in my case number five, you’re a brilliant parent."
