Former BBC Presenter Huw Edwards Faces Charges for Making Indecent Images of Children

Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with making indecent images of children, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.

The 62-year-old broadcaster faces three charges related to alleged activities occurring between late 2020 and spring 2022. Edwards, who left the BBC in April 2023 after a distinguished 40-year career, was arrested last November.

Huw Edwards will appear in court this week (Picture: BBC)

Edwards is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, July 31. The charges are reportedly linked to images shared via WhatsApp. A Met Police spokesperson stated, “Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation. The offences, alleged to have occurred between December 2020 and April 2022, involve images distributed on a WhatsApp chat.”

The charges against Edwards can carry a decade-long jail term (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges on June 26, following Edwards’ arrest on November 8, 2023. Edwards has been released on bail. Authorities have cautioned the media and public against publishing any information that could prejudice the ongoing case.

The Crown Prosecution Service echoed this warning, emphasizing the need for fair trial procedures and urging against any reporting or online commentary that might impact the proceedings.

If convicted, Edwards faces a potential jail term of up to 10 years. Edwards, who has five children with his wife, Vicky Flind, began his career at the BBC as a trainee in 1984. He went on to present the Six O’Clock News and later became the main presenter of BBC One’s Ten O’Clock News. Edwards also famously reported on significant events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronations of King Charles III.

The newsreader left the BBC in April 2024 (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The allegations surfaced in July 2023, leading to Edwards’ absence from BBC screens until his resignation was confirmed. Recent reports indicate that Edwards’ salary was between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24, marking an increase from the previous year.