Newsreader Huw Edwards has been identified by his wife as the BBC presenter in the explicit photos scandal that has rocked the corporation for almost a week.
Vicky Flind said her husband, the face of BBC News who has led the corporation's coverage of high-profile events including King Charles III's coronation and Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, had “mental heath issues” and asked for privacy in the coming days.
Shortly before Ms Flind's statement, police said charges were unlikely to arise from his alleged actions.
The Sun last week reported that an unidentified BBC presenter had bought explicit photos from a teenager for thousands of pounds.
“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,” Ms Flind said.
“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 inpatient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future.
Who is Huw Edwards?
“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.”
Following Ms Flind's statement, The Sun said: “The allegations published by The Sun were always very serious. Further serious allegations have emerged in the past few days.
“It is right that the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team continues to investigate these thoroughly and deals with them in the way that they think is appropriate.
“The Sun will co-operate with the BBC’s internal investigation process.
“The Sun has no plans to publish further allegations.”
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie said in a note to staff on Wednesday evening this will “no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days” and added: “I want to reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.”
Media figures send support to ‘superb broadcaster’ Huw Edwards
Journalists and high-profile media figures are among those who have sent their support to “superb broadcaster” Edwards.
Former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell recounted how he and Edwards had spoken often about depression.
“Like virtually everyone else, I know absolutely nothing about the events that have led to the statement by Huw Edwards’ wife,” Mr Campbell said in a tweet on Wednesday evening.
“But I do know that he is a superb broadcaster.
“I know too that he has a long history of depression. He and I have spoken about it often, including in an interview for Men's Health UK shortly before the Queen’s death, which he covered so brilliantly.
“Precisely because he is both well known and well liked, he is the perfect target for those who would undermine and indeed would like to destroy the BBC …
“The police having said no action is to be taken, whatever he did or did not do is a matter for him and his family, and for the BBC.
“The obsession with this story has been a further sign of a media that has frankly become weird.
“But I hope – almost certainly in vain – that Huw and his family are given the privacy they need and to which they are entitled.
“And the same goes for all others involved in this story. I hope he is getting good care and wish it was available to all who struggle with their mental health.”
Jon Sopel also sent his best wishes to Edwards after earlier on Wednesday saying he did not agree that the then-anonymous presenter should come forward.
“I think that whoever the presenter is needs to work it out himself, I cannot begin to imagine the sort of pressure, the sort of anguish, turmoil that is going on in his life,” Sopel said on his The News Agents podcast:
After the announcement that Edwards was the man involved, Sopel, the former BBC News North America editor, tweeted: “This is an awful and shocking episode where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life.
“That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish Huw Edwards well.”
He added: “Dear BBC Radio 4 [and] BBC News, well done on handling the breaking news about Huw Edwards and the fact that he’s now being treated in hospital.
“But to then straight off [the] back of that into a report on him facing fresh allegations of misconduct? That was just terrible.”
BBC World presenter John Simpson has said he feels “so sorry for everyone involved” in the matter, including Edwards.
“I feel so sorry for everyone involved in this: for the Edwards family, for the complainants and for Huw himself,” Simpson 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.”
Former BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker said on Twitter: “This is an awful situation and will come as a big shock to many.
“Huw Edwards is clearly not in a good place at the moment and this must be terrible for his family.
“I just hope that whoever needs help – on all sides of this – gets the time, space and support they need to heal.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine, who said earlier on Wednesday that he felt the then-unidentified presenter “needs to come forward”, retweeted Walker’s statement.
BBC suspends Edwards as reports emerge
Edwards, 61, has been suspended since The Sun's first reports, which alleged the presenter – who it did not identify – had paid a teenager £35,000 (almost $45,500) for sexually explicit photos.
The mother claimed she had seen a bank statement from her child’s account showing payments from the TV presenter.
It ignited a controversy around the BBC, with questions raised over how it handled the original complaint from the family and how it has dealt with the fallout in the past week.
Mr Davie, the BBC chief, has ordered a review to “assess how some complaints are red-flagged up the organisation”.
He has said the BBC is dealing with a “complex and difficult situation” after the “serious allegations”.
Edwards has previously spoken about his mental health, revealing in a 2021 documentary that he had bouts of depression that left him “bedridden”.
Many media personalities had volunteered statements that they were not the person involved in the story.
“We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action,” a BBC representative said.
“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, while continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.”
