The country’s worst kept secret is finally out. In a shocking statement, the wife of Huw Edwards – the so far anonymous presenter at the center of sexual misconduct allegations – has named her.
Vicky Flind, a respected TV producer who works on ITV’s Peston show, broke the cover this afternoon, sending shockwaves across the BBC and beyond.
Edwards’ name has been one that has been floating around the internet for the past few days. Almost everyone working in the media knew he was accused of taking pornographic pictures from a vulnerable teenager in exchange for money – allegedly £35,000 – which the young man then used to fund drug addiction.
For legal reasons, we couldn’t say it or print it – but we knew it. Of course, like other BBC presenters whose names were dragged through the mud on Twitter and social media.
That’s why they’re all – rightly – outraged by the BBC’s apparent inaction in revealing the identities of the accused or even issuing a statement clearing their names.
Sarah Vine: In a shocking statement, the wife of Howe Edwards – the still-unnamed presenter at the center of sexual misconduct allegations – named her
Vicky Flind, a respected TV producer who works on ITV’s Peston show, broke the cover this afternoon (pictured together in 2018)
What Flind did – to identify her own husband and finally put an end to the malicious speculation – is therefore not only extremely brave, but also exemplary from a moral point of view.
She decides to put a lot of people out of their misery while inevitably drawing attention to herself – and to her five children with Edwards. I can only imagine what they and she are going through.
It is important to emphasize that her statement does not count as an admission of her husband’s guilt: she is merely confirming that he is the accused. And Scotland Yard ruled out investigating the allegations, saying that as far as the police were concerned, no crime had been committed.
But even if no offense had been committed, the fact remains that the idea of Edwards – the self-styled epitome of BBC journalism – asking for pictures of alleged youths speaks to a worrying hypocrisy, and is completely at odds with his position. .
In addition to the original charges, he was later charged with breaking stay-at-home lockdown rules to meet another youth, sending messages with love hearts and kisses to a 17-year-old, and sending threatening messages to one of them. in her early twenties whom she met on a dating app.
Of course, it may turn out that none of these things happened. But there is a stark contrast between these claims and the public image of the man who led the nation in televised coverage of the late Queen’s funeral – the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Diamond Jubilee, the death of Prince Philip and the coronation of King Charles.
Huw Edwards has been our simple companion to the BBC’s flagship 10 o’clock news for as long as many of us can remember.
Unsurprisingly, as Flind said in his statement, Edwards is ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’ and ‘is receiving inpatient hospital care where he will remain for the foreseeable future’.
Huw Edwards has been our simple companion to the BBC’s flagship 10 o’clock news for as long as many of us can remember.
Until he can prove to the public that these allegations are completely false, it’s hard to see how there could be a way back for him.
His wife spoke of her battle with depression over the years in her statement, perhaps as a way of trying to defuse the situation. And always have compassion for anyone struggling with a serious mental health condition. But the problem for Edwards—and, for that matter, the BBC—is that he was largely a corporate mouthpiece.
This isn’t some flighty Radio 1 DJ we’re talking about here: this is the man who succeeded David Dimbleby, the last in a long line of BBC greats. It’s an absurd possibility.
It’s also a terrible shame.
As it is, his life’s work and reputation are at stake. And once again, public faith in the integrity of those who hold such high positions of power has been shaken to its core.
Vicky Flind’s emotional speech is complete
I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards in light of recent reports about the ‘BBC presenter’, after five very difficult days for our family.
I am doing this primarily out of concern for her mental well-being and for the safety of our children. Huw suffers from serious mental health problems. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
The events of the past few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another severe episode and is now receiving inpatient hospital care where he will remain for the foreseeable future. Once it’s enough to do that, he wants to respond to published stories.
To clarify, Huw was first told that he had been charged last Thursday.
Given the circumstances and Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else involved in these disturbing events is respected.
I know that Huw is deeply saddened that so many colleagues have been affected by recent media speculation. We hope this statement puts an end to it.