BBC director-general Tim Davie has spoken out about the corporation’s decision to continue paying Huw Edwards after his arrest in November now that the 63-year-old has been sentenced.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Edwards was sentenced to six months suspended for two years after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.
Edwards was initially arrested in November 2023 but remained on the Beeb’s payroll until his official departure in April 2024 on “medical grounds”.
It’s believed the former BBC News presenter raked in approximately £200,000 from the Beeb in the time from his arrest to his resignation.
Speaking at the RTS Convention today, Davie said Edwards’ sentencing “impacts our reputation” and that he “can’t see Huw Edwards working at the BBC again”.
When asked about erasing Edwards from archive footage, Davie replied: “We never rip people out of our archive. But never say never. We will have editorial control over that.”
Huw Edwards was sentenced on Monday
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Davie admitted it was a “tough decision to continue paying Edwards after being notified of arrest”, but has doubled down on the stance it was the right thing to do.
“We decided pay continues until a charge was made,” he said. “(We) did not know the gap between arrest and charge would be so long. (I) still think it was the right decision.”
The BBC director-general added that the corporation “acted in good faith and did the right thing” but moments later, he reiterated the Beeb’s plea that now Edwards should repay said salary.
“We want the £200,000 back. We’ve asked for it back,” Davie insisted.
‘These are not indecent images. These are real children in real time being brutally abused’
Marilyn Hawes is sickened by Huw Edwards’ crimes. pic.twitter.com/FRgdsaMzpe
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 17, 2024
Davie also delved into the decision-making process, saying: “If we’d have thought it was criminal at the time we would have referred it to the police.
“We apply the process fairly to everyone, regardless of their status.”
But the process will now come under scrutiny, according to the BBC boss as he admitted he “will look at this process” as “there’s a lot of upset across the BBC. People feel deeply let down”.
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