Huw Edwards, the former BBC News star anchor who announced Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, has been charged with three counts of sharing pornographic images of children, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
The charges stem from an investigation into images allegedly shared on WhatsApp between December 2020 and April 2022.
“Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation. The offenses, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat. Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday, 26 June following authorization from the Crown Prosecution Service. He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 31 July. Media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case. Nothing should be published, including on social media, which could prejudice future court proceedings,” A Metropolitan Police spokesman told Variety.
According to the charge sheet, Edwards is accused of possessing 37 images containing child pornography: six category A images (involving penetrative sexual activity), 12 category B pictures (showing non-penetrative sexual activity), and 19 category C photographs. If convicted, Edwards could face up to 10 years in prison.
This development follows Edwards’ resignation from the BBC in April 2024, which he attributed to “medical advice.”
His departure came after a 10-month leave of absence, initially prompted by accusations of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photographs.
At that time, Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, revealed that her husband had been suffering from “serious mental health issues” and had been hospitalized for treatment.
Prior to these events, Edwards was one of the BBC’s most prominent figures, having spent 40 years with the mainstream news corporation.
He was the fourth highest-paid individual at the BBC, earning between £475,000 and £479,999 in 2023/24 for 160 presenting days, according to the BBC’s annual report.
The BBC has declined to comment on the charges.