The wife of BBC news presenter Huw Edwards has named her husband as the network star who is embroiled in a shock sex photo scandal.
Edwards, the high-profile host who is considered the ‘face of BBC news’, is facing allegations he paid a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos.
His wife Vicky Flind issued a statement through the BBC after days of intense speculation on the unnamed accused’s identity.
“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years,” said the statement.
“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,” the statement said.
The BBC has been in turmoil after it emerged a household name presenter had paid a young person £35,000 ($67,500) for explicit photos over three years, beginning when the person was 17.
The crisis deepened with further reports the male presenter had sent abusive messages to a second person, aged in their early 20s.
The presenter was suspended but not named, angering other high-profile stars who had fallen under suspicion on social media.
The scandal at the BBC has dominated Brtish newspapers and television bulletins since it broke in The Sun late last week, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak describing the allegations as “very serious and concerning”.
Police are examining the circumstances to establish whether there was evidence of a criminal offence.
“There remains no police investigation at this time,” they said.
The age of consent for sex in England is 16 but images of someone under 18 can be considered child pornography.
According to a timeline published by the broadcaster, a member of the young person’s family walked into a BBC building on May 18 to make a complaint.
The family member contacted BBC Audience Services the next day.
The BBC said it made two unsuccessful attempts – one email and one phone call – to respond to the complainant.
The Sun contacted the BBC seven weeks later on July 6 with different allegations, the broadcaster said, and senior management were informed for the first time.
Funded by a licence fee paid by every TV-watching household, the BBC often faces criticism as it tries to be impartial.
It faced its gravest crisis in 2012 when it emerged that Jimmy Savile, one of the most recognisable TV personalities of the 1970s and 80s, was a prolific sex offender.
The corporation is trying to investigate the claim against the presenter, protect that person’s privacy while the facts are established, and respond publicly to the allegations, all while avoiding placing high-profile staff under suspicion.
