The BBC presenter at the centre of allegations relating to sexually explicit images of a young person has been revealed as Huw Edwards. Vicky Flind, the wife of news reader Huw Edwards named him in a statement issued on his behalf, reports Press Association
In her statement, Vicky Flind said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was now “receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.
She said: "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. 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."
The Metropolitan Police has said no criminal offence has been committed by Mr Edwards. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Allegations that a BBC presenter had paid a young person £35,000 for sexually explicit images, which started when they were just 17, were first published by the Sun on Friday, July 7.
Since then, the lawyer of the young person at the centre of those initial allegations has "rubbished" the claims on behalf of their client, the parents have stood by their initial claims and a second person has come forward claiming to the BBC they received what they described as "threatening" messages from the presenter after meeting them on a dating app.
A third young person has also reportedly come forward to claim that the BBC presenter broke lockdown rules by travelling to meet them.
South Wales Police said in a statement this evening: "South Wales Police has remained in contact with representatives of the Metropolitan Police and the BBC following a meeting on Monday. Information was initially received by the force in April, 2023, regarding the welfare of an adult. No criminality was identified.
"Following recent events, further enquiries have been carried out and officers have spoken to a number of parties to establish whether any criminal allegations are being made. At this time, there is no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed. There are no ongoing enquiries being carried out by South Wales Police.
"However, should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point in future then they will be investigated."
