BBC Presenter Facing Allegations Is Named by Wife

UPDATE Jul 12, 2023 1:20 PM CDT

The BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teen for explicit photos has been identified as Huw Edwards, one of the broadcaster's best-known names. His wife, Vicky Flind, said in a statement Wednesday that the 61-year-old is "suffering from serious mental health issues" and will respond to the allegations when he is able to, the Guardian reports. Edwards "has been treated for severe depression in recent years," Flind said. "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." The BBC reports that its investigation of the allegations will continue, though police have told the broadcaster there is no sign a criminal offense has been committed and they will take no further action.

Jul 9, 2023 9:15 AM CDT

Senior British politicians on Sunday called on the BBC to rapidly investigate claims that a leading presenter paid a teenager for explicit photos. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held crisis talks with the broadcaster's director-general and said the "deeply concerning" allegations must be looked into "swiftly and sensitively," per the AP. The publicly funded national broadcaster is under pressure after the Sun newspaper reported allegations that the male presenter gave a youth 35,000 pounds ($45,000) starting in 2020 when the young person was 17.

Neither the star nor the youth was identified. Amid speculation on social media about the identity of the presenter, several of the BBC's best-known stars spoke up to say it wasn't them. (Deadline has a running list of the deniers, including Gary Linekar, Nicky Campbell, Jeremy Vine, and Rylan Clark.) Though the age of sexual consent in Britain is 16, it's a crime to make or possess indecent images of anyone under 18. The Sun said the young person's mother had complained to the BBC in May. It was unclear what if any action the broadcaster had taken. In a statement, the BBC said "we treat any allegations very seriously and we have processes in place to proactively deal with them."

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"If, at any point, new information comes to light or is provided—including via newspapers—this will be acted upon appropriately, in line with internal processes," the broadcaster said. UK media reported that the presenter was not due to be on the air in the near future, but it was unclear whether he had been suspended. The BBC faces greater scrutiny than other broadcasters because it is taxpayer-funded and committed to remaining impartial in its news coverage. It was engulfed in a storm over free speech and political bias in March when Linekar, its leading sports presenter, criticized the government's immigration policy on social media. Lineker was suspended—and then restored after allies boycotted the BBC airwaves in solidarity.

(More BBC stories.)