Huw Edwards named as BBC star at centre of sex images allegations

Vicky Flind, the wife of news reader Huw Edwards, has named him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images in a statement issued on his behalf.

In a statement released to the PA news agency, Vicky Flind, the wife of BBC news reader Huw Edwards 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.”

No criminal offence was committed by the BBC employee, the Metropolitan Police say they have concluded, dropping their probe.

“Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed,” the force said.

They said they had spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force.

“There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.”

They added: “We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.

“Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force.”

Police had asked the BBC to put its own investigation on hold while it carried out further “scoping”.

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid says Jeremy Vine’s call for the accused presenter to identify himself is odd.

She said: “Now we have a very high-profile presenter, Jeremy Vine, putting pressure on the unnamed presenter to come forward, which I think is a strange move for another presenter.”

The prime minister says he was personally concerned by the claims against the BBC presenter and they should be investigated quickly.

Rishi Sunak said: “With regard to the BBC, I think, as you’ll be aware, the police have asked the BBC to suspend their inquiry whilst they do their assessment, and it is right that we let that continue.

“I personally was concerned by the allegations, they are serious and it’s right that they are investigated swiftly and rigorously.

“I’m glad that that’s happening and we should let that continue and conclude.”

He declined to comment when asked if the presenter should resign.

Everything known and the unanswered questions surrounding the furore over the BBC presenter:

Presenter Jeremy Vine says the BBC presenter at the heart of the ongoing sex scandal is angry but “hopes he can one day walk back into the building”:

A Channel 4 boss has said broadcasters needed to ensure procedures were in place that would quickly flag up issues such as the allegations facing the BBC.

Chief executive Alex Mahon was asked during the annual report press briefing whether the BBC had a duty of care to identify the presenter, to which she replied: “It doesn’t look easy does it.”

She added: “The key thing for us is to make sure that our procedures would flag something like that to us.

“We have a ‘speak up’ procedure that is on every call sheet that goes out on every production, and those instances are described to us as senior management, to me, within 24 hours, if something comes in.”