The BBC has this evening named its newsreader Huw Edwards on air as the high-profile star facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images after his wife issued a statement.
Following days of intense speculation as to the identity of the BBC presenter at the centre of the allegations, Vicky Flind said in a statement released to the PA news agency on Wednesday (July 11) that she was speaking out on her husband’s behalf as he is "suffering from serious mental health issues” and receiving "in-patient hospital care".
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.
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“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.”
She said once the presenter, who has worked for the BBC for four decades, was well enough he “intends to respond to the stories that have been published” and added that her husband was first told there were allegations “being made against him last Thursday”.
She added: “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.”
During the BBC News at Six on Wednesday, Edwards’ colleague Sophie Raworth informed viewers of the latest development. "At Six, Huw Edwards is the presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit photos," she said as the news programme began.
Raworth stated that Edwards had announced his resignation, but a few minutes later clarified that this wasn’t the case. Sources have since made it clear to the PA news agency that Edwards, 61, has not resigned.
She later said this will come as a "huge shock" to viewers before reading out part of Edwards' wife's statement.
