Huw Edwards’ once-lauded career is over and things looks very different now for the sex offender as viewers prepare to watch Martin Clunes bring to life his dramatic downfall
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards avoided prison despite his harrowing crimes(Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)
Formerly one of the most trusted and respected faces on television, disgraced Huw Edwards’ life is now a far cry from what it used to be.
The former BBC newsreader, 64, was given six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children and sentenced to a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years. The shamed star admitted having 41 indecent images of children, which had been sent to him by another man on WhatsApp.
His sordid world fell apart after his conviction, and the man who fronted coverage of major national events knew he would never be seen in the studio again. Father-of-five Edwards managed to dodge prison despite his crimes, and his diminished life now is barely recognisable to the one he enjoyed at the height of his powers as a world class broadcaster.
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Viewers this week will be shocked as they watch Martin Clunes, who plays Edwards, tackle the story of him grooming a 17-year-old. Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards will air on Tuesday on 5, and the heavily-researched film tells the ‘brutal’ story of the abuse and the collapse of a life in the spotlight when the harrowing truth came out. Here’s what he know about his new life.
Huw ‘in hiding’
Edwards is understood to be leading a reclusive life in South Wales, and is said to be staying at his elderly mother’s bungalow following his conviction.
It’s a far cry from his former family home in Dulwich, London, with the six-bedroom property put on the market for £4.75 million as part of his divorce proceedings.
He will remain on the sex offenders register for another five years, and is free to travel where he pleases and he is able to travel abroad, provided he gives police seven days notice.
Salary return refusal
Edwards still hasn’t paid back his £200,000 salary to the BBC after he was still paid for five months following his arrest.
Despite numerous calls to return licence fee payer’s cash, it is understood he has so far declined to.
Edwards, who first joined the BBC back in 1984, was once the corporation’s top-earning newsreader, earning between £475,000 and £479,999 for the fiscal year 2023/24, as per the BBC’s most recent annual report.
Even after his arrest in November 2023, Edwards continued to be paid by the BBC right up until his resignation five months later. The BBC stated that they are demanding Edwards pay back his earnings for that period.
Possible return to TV
Edwards’ once-lauded journalism career is now over, and, as a registered sex offender, his employment prospects have narrowed considerably.
Outlining the obstacles Edwards now faces if he seeks employment, Chartered Security Professional James Bore explained: “Anything involving contact with children as part of the role requires a CRB check, and he will fail any of these.
“For any other role involving a CRB, it will be up to the organisation to decide whether or not it would affect his work. Any job without a CRB check won’t be informed, but given he is well known it’s likely that the impact on any potential work will be much, much greater than just roles that involve a CRB check as part of their recruitment process.”
Hopes of volunteering
In the pre-sentence report, Consultant Psychiatrist & Neuropsychiatrist Michael Isaac indicated that Edwards now hopes to dedicate time to volunteering. Mr Isaac wrote: “He has stated his willingness to engage with the Probation Service to undertake planned intervention to reduce the likelihood of further offending.
“In addition, he has indicated that he would welcome further assistance in developing his future plans, particularly in the area of vocational or volunteering endeavours which he is mindful will need to be managed alongside restrictions placed upon him.
“Ensuring that Mr Edwards is able to develop pro-social activities in the future which provide him with a sense of purpose and social investment will be important protective factors alongside development of his internal behaviour controls.”
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