Huw Edwards' wife Vicky Flind has released a statement naming him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images in a statement issued on his behalf.
It comes after the BBC reported this week that they had suspended an unnamed presenter, after they were accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photographs. The BBC said they were ‘working as quickly as possible to establish the facts’ and met with the Metropolitan Police. The Met went on to conclude that no criminal offence had been committed by the BBC presenter facing allegations. The young person in question also sent a WhatsApp message to The Sun denying the claims, saying their mother's statement was 'totally wrong and there was no truth to it', according to a later letter from their lawyer.
In Huw Edward's wife's statement, Vicky Flind revealed that the incident had massively impacted Edwards mental health after suffering with severe depression for years, and that he had 'suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future'. She asked for privacy for her family.
What does Huw Edwards' wife's statement say?
Flind's full statement reads: '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.'
What are all of the actual allegations towards Huw Edwards?
The initial allegation about the payment for explicit images was first reported by The Sun newspaper on Friday. According to the newspaper, the family of the teenager alleges that a presenter paid for explicit photos over a three-year period, starting when the young person was 17. The mother of the young person told the Sun on Sunday her child had used the money to fund a drug habit. However, the Met has investigated the incident and ruled that no criminal offence took place, calling into question the initial report by The Sun.
After speculation began about who the then-unnamed BBC presenter might be, Huw Edwards began trending on Twitter and Google. An alleged photo of Edwards was also circulating online, contributing to Google searches for phrases like ‘Huw Edwards leaked.’
Fresh allegations emerged after the initial report by The Sun on Tuesday 11th July when another young person told BBC News they had felt threatened by the presenter. 'The individual in their early 20s said they were contacted on a dating app and pressured to meet up, but never did,' the BBC reported. 'When the young person hinted online that they might name the presenter, they were sent abusive messages.'
The Sun then alleged that Edwards broke Covid lockdown rules to meet a 23-year-old, whom he had met on a dating site. They then published an alleged Instagram conversation between the presenter and a 17-year-old in which the presenter sent love heart emojis.
The BBC continues to investigate claims even though the police are no longer involved, and The Sun had said it will 'provide the BBC team with a confidential and redacted dossier containing serious and wide-ranging allegations which we have received, including some from BBC personnel.'
Then today, the BBC reported fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Edwards towards junior staff. Two current workers and one former member of staff claimed they were sent messages that made them uncomfortable.
Why is Huw Edwards in hospital?
Now, attention has turned to Huw Edwards health after his wife reported that he had been hospitalised for mental health care. Google Trends data shows an increase in search for 'Which hospital is Huw Edwards in?' and 'Huw Edwards mental health history'. Edwards has previously been open about his mental health struggles, and opened up in a May 2022 interview with Alastair Campbell:
'I'm pretty clear that I have suffered - and do suffer - from depression,' he said. 'It's not anxiety, although it includes anxiety, but it tends to hit me in a strong wave and then go away… I think at least I now know when I'm going to enter a phase like that. Your mind goes into a place where you don't want to do anything. You can't make any decisions.
'Things that you usually enjoy, you dread,' he continued. 'You come into work and obviously, you do a professional job, but you're kind of pushing your way through it. And, of course, if it's very bad - as it has been a few times over the course of 20 years - you can't work. During the worst one I had, I couldn't get out of bed.'
In her statement, Huw Edward's wife explained that due to the events of the last few days, he had suffered a 'serious episode' that resulted in him needing in-patient care for the forseeable future. It is not known what hospital Huw Edwards is in, nor is it appropriate to share.
Who is Huw Edward's wife, Vicky Flind?
Search has also increased for Vicky Flind following her statement about Huw Edward's health. Flind, 59, is a television producer who has worked on ITV's Peston and BBC One's This Week. Her colleagues have publicly praised her as a 'thoroughly decent and good person', known to keep her personal life private according to one tabloid source.
Flind and Hue Edwards have five children together, three sons and two daughters. The couple reportedly met in 1992, when Flind was 28 and Edwards 30. They started dating after Edwards invited her on a skiing trip with his friends, and when their flight was delayed for 14 hours, they 'started talking and haven't ever really stopped', Edwards told the Daily Mail.