BBC Admits It Was Aware Huw Edwards Had Been Arrested Five Months Before He Quit

deadline.com:

The BBC has admitted it knew Huw Edwards had been arrested over making indecent images of children five months before he left the corporation on “medical advice” in April 2024.

Delivering its first statement on the matter days after Edwards was charged, and coming on the day he pled guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court, a BBC spokesperson said it was “made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.” This was in November. “At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health,” said the spokesperson, whose note was shared with BBC staff.

The BBC said it would have “acted immediately to dismiss him” had he been charged at any point between when he was arrested in November and when he left in April 2024. “In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC,” added the spokesperson. “During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.” Last week’s annual report showed Edwards earned his biggest pay packet for five years, for a year in which he was arrested midway through and barely worked for the BBC following allegations that emerged in The Sun.

The BBC today quoted the police confirming that those Sun allegations were “not connected” to those that Edwards pled guilty to in court. “Shocked to hear the details” The BBC said it was “shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today,” adding: “We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.” The corporation