The BBC has requested that former presenter Huw Edwards return the £200,000 ($225,000) salary he received after his arrest last November on charges related to the creation of indecent images of children. Edwards, one of the most prominent faces on UK television, pleaded guilty last month to three charges and now faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, with a minimum of 12 months.
In a statement released on Friday, August 9, 2024, the BBC Board expressed its dismay, stating that Edwards had “undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute.” The Board clarified that they had authorized the BBC Executive to seek the return of the salary paid to Edwards from the time of his arrest.
“Mr. Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime,” the statement read. “Had he been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money.”
Edwards was suspended by the BBC in July 2023, when allegations first surfaced, but he continued to receive his salary for five months before eventually leaving the broadcaster in April 2024, after a 40-year career. The fact that he was paid during this period has sparked public outrage, particularly because the BBC is funded by a licence fee paid by UK households.
The BBC also announced an independent review into its workplace culture in light of the scandal, which has added to a series of controversies that have plagued the broadcaster in recent years. Edwards, who had been the face of major events like the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The police investigation into Edwards began when a phone seized during an unrelated probe revealed his involvement in a WhatsApp conversation linked to the offenses. The BBC has not confirmed whether legal action will be pursued if Edwards refuses to return the salary.
