Huw Edwards expected to leave BBC after being given inquiry findings (Picture: Rex)
Huw Edwards is expected to leave the BBC after an internal enquiry into his conduct at the broadcaster, it is claimed.
The News at Ten presenter was suspended from the corporation in July after allegations he paid for explicit images.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed there was no evidence to indicate a criminal offence had been committed at the time, but BBC also launched their own ‘fact-finding’ investigation.
BBC insiders have claimed that Edwards, 62, is now in discussion over his future with BBC managers following the results of the investigation, which are not expected to be made public.
A colleague told i: ‘We understand Huw is not coming back. It’s now a discussion about the terms of his departure and how it is presented.’
‘The review is in and unfortunately, there isn’t a path back for Huw. There is no expectation he will return,’ added a senior newsroom insider.
Edwards was named by his wife (Picture: PA)
Friends of Edward claimed that he wants it to be made clear by the BBC that he did nothing illegal.
‘Why should he lose his career because of what looks like a complicated private life? There will be a big price tag to a settlement on those terms,’ said one person in the newspaper report.
His wife, Vicky Flind, named Edwards in a statement issued on his behalf after a ‘BBC presenter’ was accused of paying a young person, aged 17 at the time, £35,000 for explicit photographs.
A second young person claimed they were sent expletive-filled abusive messages, while a third said the presenter broke lockdown rules to meet them.
Newsnight reported that Edwards allegedly sent ‘inappropriate’ and ‘suggestive’ messages to junior BBC employees, but were not deemed to be criminal.
Edwards was a prominent fixture on BBC (Picture: BBC)
‘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,’ Vicky began.
‘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.’
Edwards was paid a salary of £435,000 at the BBC, where he worked since 1984. He became one of the prominent and trusted faces on the news channel, reporting on big royal family events and important political moments.
Breaking the news of the Queen’s death to the nation on BBC One fell to Edwards. He later wrote on Instagram: ‘My work is a privilege (Thank you for all your messages)’.
One insider claimed that the BBC is working on a deal with Huw’s lawyers so that archival videos of his coverage of important national occasions can still be used.
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and Edwards’ representatives for comment.
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Edwards was suspended in July.