BBC News presenters today reported on how their former colleague Huw Edwards has been charged with the possession of indecent images of children.
Interrupting coverage of Chancellor Rachel Reeves‘ statement in the House of Commons, the BBC announced the breaking news.
Entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba said: “The former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with three offences of making indecent images of children.
“That’s according to statements from the Metropolitan Police and from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“The Metropolitan Police said that the CPS authorised the charges after a Metropolitan Police investigation.
Entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba announced the breaking news that Huw Edwards has been charged with possessing indecent images of children
“They said Mr Edwards will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court this Wednesdays, July 31, 2024.
“A little more detail from the Crown Prosecution Service: they say the offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022 and relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.
“They say Huw Edwards was arrested on November 8, 2023, he was charged on Wednesday, June 26 following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“Huw Edwards, the former BBC presenter, of course for a long time one of the most prominent faces on the BBC, presenting generally election coverage, big royal occasions, big state occasions, for many people one of the best known and most important faces of the cooperation and also one of its highest paid names.”
After the breaking news was reported, BBC News returned to coverage of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement in Parliament.
Edwards, 62, has been charged with child pornography offences after 37 indecent images were allegedly shared on a WhatsApp chat.
The former broadcaster, who resigned in April, has been bailed ahead of his appearance in court on Wednesday.
According to the charge sheet, he is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B pictures and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp.
The offences are contrary to sections 1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978, and if found guilty, he could receive a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
BBC News cut away from coverage of Rachel Reeves’ statement to inform viewers of the news
Huw Edwards, 62, has been charged with child pornography offences after 37 indecent images were allegedly shared on a WhatsApp chat
Category A involves images involving penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity with an animal or sadism; Category B covers images which show non-penetrative sexual activity; while Category C is for indecent images not within categories B or C.
The resignation from the BBC by married father-of-five Edwards in April followed allegations that he paid someone for sexually explicit pictures.
The Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police both said in July last year that no criminal offence had been committed by Edwards.
Edwards was absent from screens from when the story first broke in July 2023 until his exit in April 2024.
He remained on the payroll while suspended, which is normal BBC policy, and was suffering from serious mental health issues and received in-patient hospital care.
The BBC confirmed at the time of his departure that he had not received a pay-off and was leaving ‘on the basis of medical advice from his doctors’.
Last week the BBC confirmed Edwards was paid more than £475,000 in 2023/24 before he resigned and left.
