Newsreader Huw Edwards leaves BBC 'on medical advice'

Newsreader Huw Edwards has resigned from the BBC on "medical advice", the corporation has said. The broadcaster has been off air since last July following newspaper reports claiming he paid a young person for sexually explicit images.

"Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC," a statement from the BBC said on Monday (April 22). "After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.."

The statement concluded: "The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further."

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The news presenter, 62, was suspended in July 2023 following claims he paid a young person for explicit images. Police found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the presenter.

During the early stages of the investigation, Edwards' identity was concealed, leading to speculation about which BBC presenter was at the centre of the allegations.

But his wife Vicky Flind named him as the suspended star and revealed he was in hospital receiving treatment for his mental health.

In a statement released to the PA news agency at the time, Vicky 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.

“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.

“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.

“To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.

“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”

Huw was the corporation’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £435,000 – £439,999 in the year 2022/2023, according to the corporation’s most recent annual report. This was up from £410,000 – £414,000 the year before, putting him fourth on the 2022/23 list.

He had fronted the flagship BBC’s News At Ten for 20 years, earning a reputation as a respected veteran broadcaster. In four decades at the corporation, he has been among the broadcasting teams leading coverage of historical events including the late Queen’s funeral in 2022 and most recently the coronation of the King in May this year.

He also announced the death of the Queen in September 2022.