Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards ‘accused of making indecent images of children’

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

The veteran journalist, 62, who left the Beeb after 40 years in April, faces three charges for alleged work between December 2020 and April 2022.

The offenses are alleged to be linked to images shared on WhatsApp, police said.

Edwards will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning.

According to the charge sheet, Edwards is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B images and 19 category C photos on WhatsApp.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of six months in prison and an unlimited fine.

The star was arrested last November by London’s Met Police – and charged with the offenses on Wednesday, June 26.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Huw Edwards, 62, from Southwark, London, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following an investigation by the Met Police.

“The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.

“Edwards he was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday 26 June following the authorization of the Crown Prosecution Service.

“He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 July.

“The table and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case. Nothing should be published, including on social media, that could prejudice future legal proceedings.”

It comes less than a week after it was revealed Edwards received a £40,000 pay rise from the BBC over the past year despite being suspended for most of the time.

But in the corporation’s annual report, which was released today, it was revealed that Mr Edwards earned between £475,000 and £479,999, up from £435,000-439,999 in the previous report.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the pay rise was because the BBC was trying to act “proportionately”.

“I think that’s what we did and it came to a conclusion, we all know, but I think we wouldn’t have wasted money if we hadn’t done the right thing,” he said.

“As far as the pay rise before any story breaks… You know, people are getting, as you’ve seen, generally our pay progress is pretty good… But the people on the list would be getting raises of salary for extended responsibility and actually if they do more… So this is a pretty normal business and that would lead to change.”