Robert Peston pays tribute to Huw Edwards' wife as he addresses BBC scandal on ITV show

Robert Peston has paid tribute to Huw Edwards' wife Vicky Flind following her statement revealing that her husband was the BBC presenter facing allegations of paying for sexual images.

Flind, who produces Peston's show on ITV, issued a statement on Wednesday evening naming her husband as the star at the centre of the scandal, saying he was suffering from "serious mental health issues" and is now receiving in-patient hospital care.

At the start of his show the same evening, Peston made his own statement connected to the scandal, in which he echoed comments made by MP Jess Phillips, who described Flind as the "nicest kindest and most decent woman".

In the statement, which he also shared on Twitter, Peston said: "As a journalist I have spent more or less my entire career weighing up stories by whether they are truly in the public interest or just interesting to the public.

"This has been on my mind a great deal, following the allegations in The Sun newspaper about a BBC presenter and a young person, and a relationship between them that their parents alleged was harmful and possibly illegal.

"Tonight we heard from the Met Police that it had found no evidence of criminality.

"Shortly afterwards Vicky Flind made a public statement that the presenter is her husband, one of the most famous presenters in the business Huw Edwards, with whom I worked very closely when I was at the BBC.

"What few of you will know is that Vicky Flind is the editor of this show, and the person who created it with me - though she hasn't been involved tonight or at all this week.

"The Labour MP Jess Phillips tonight described Vicky as the nicest, kindest and most decent woman.

"I and everyone who works with me here would agree. It has been difficult to feel what she and her family have been going through - and to read her statement that Huw has been hospitalised with acute depression."

Watch: Broadcaster Huw Edwards named by his wife as BBC presenter at centre of scandal

He added: "None of this is to comment on complaints that have been made against Huw - or indeed to answer the question of whether people and their families may have been hurt. I don't know what Huw did, or why.

"The question however is whether - if it remains clear as the police say that no crime was committed - there was a public interest in publishing the original story and in the subsequent coverage.'

"Though I have to say at this point Vicky would just tell me to get on with the show. So we will."

TV producer Flind has worked on BBC’s This Week politics show and Robert Peston’s ITV programme, Peston.

On Wednesday, Edwards was named as the BBC presenter accused by the Sun of paying a young person, now aged 20, for sexual images.

The newspaper’s initial report - published on 7 July - suggested that this had started when the individual was 17 - a potentially serious criminal offence, leading the BBC to launch an investigation into its handling of a complaint that was initially raised by the parents of the person in May.

The police has since said no criminal act took place. The Sun subsequently claimed its initial report did not allege any criminality had taken place.

Read more: Huw Edwards: The BBC’s trusted voice for Britain's most historic moments

Journalists and high profile media figures were among those to send support to Edwards after he was named on Wednesday.

Former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell said he hoped Edwards and his family would be given privacy, adding: "I hope he is getting good care and wish it was available to all who struggle with their mental health".

Former BBC News North America editor Jon Sopel also sent his best wishes to Edwards after earlier on Wednesday he said he did not agree that the then-anonymous presenter should come forward.

Meanwhile, BBC World presenter John Simpson said he feels "so sorry for everyone involved" in the matter including Edwards.

He wrote on Twitter: "No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now."