London, UK
Huw Edwards, a well-known former news anchor at the BBC, has been has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, police said Monday (Jul 29).
Edwards, who resigned from the BBC in April on "medical advice", six months after he was initially arrested, was charged on June 26 and has been bailed to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, police added.
Who is Huw Edwards?
Huw Edwards is a journalist who has been associated with BBC for many years. He is often referred to as the "face of historic events" due to his role as a newsreader and presenter for major events and significant moments in British history.
Born on August 18, 1961, in Bridgend, Wales, Huw Edwards joined the BBC in 1984 as a news trainee and quickly rose through the ranks. He became a regular presenter on BBC News and has since become one of the most recognisable and respected newsreaders in the United Kingdom.
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Huw Edwards is also known for his calm and authoritative delivery style, which has made him a trusted figure in broadcasting. He has covered numerous important events, including elections, royal weddings, state funerals, and major national and international news stories.
In addition to news reading, Huw Edwards has presented several BBC programmes, including the documentary series "The Story of Wales." He has also been involved in the coverage of significant events such as the Olympic Games and the Proms, a renowned classical music festival in the UK.
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Most recently before the sex scandal row, Huw Edwards was a prominent figure on the BBC, serving as the main presenter of the BBC News at Ten, the network's flagship evening news programme. It included the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (as they were known at the time) in 2011, the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh (2021), the Queen's Diamond and Platinum Jubilee (2012 and 2022) and the coronation of King Charles (2023).
His extensive experience and authoritative presence have made him a familiar face to many viewers, especially during significant historical moments.
Huw Edwards was among the highest earners at the BBC. In 2017, when the BBC was required by the parliament to disclose the salaries of its top presenters, it was revealed that Edwards earned £550,000 ($716,023). Due to public scrutiny over the BBC's expenditure on talent and the gender pay gap among its stars, Edwards decided to take a pay cut.
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Up until last year, his salary stood at £435,000 ($566,254), BBC reported. In a cameo appearance in the 2012 James Bond film "Skyfall," Edwards played himself, presenting a BBC News report on a fictional attack on the British intelligence service MI6.
During an interview with BBC Radio Cymru in 2021, Edwards hinted that his tenure as the BBC's chief news anchor may be coming to an end due to the demands of the role.
"The nightly news business, after 20 years, that can be taxing, even though I still enjoy the job," he said. "But I don't think I'll be doing that for long… I think it's fair for the viewers to get a change."
(With inputs from agencies)