Channel 5 has unveiled the first glimpse of Martin Clunes transformed into disgraced BBC newsreader Huw Edwards for an upcoming factual drama.
The two-part production, titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, will combine scripted sequences with real-life interviews to examine how one of British television's most prominent faces became engulfed in scandal.
Ben Frow, the broadcaster's chief content officer, described the project as "a first for the channel".
"This is an important and shocking story of how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status," he stated.
Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards in the new drama
|CHANNEL 5
The Doc Martin star takes on the role of the former News at Ten anchor.
The programme delves into Mr Edwards' secret existence as it spiralled beyond his control, examining how he repeatedly sought explicit sexual photographs from young men.
The series also explores a separate online relationship Mr Edwards maintained with another man who, between December 2020 and August 2021, repeatedly transmitted child abuse imagery to him via WhatsApp.
Mr Frow added: "By gaining exclusive access to the key individuals involved and those who investigated the story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines."
Martin Clunes will take on the role of Huw Edwards
|CHANNEL 5
Channel 5 released the trailer for the upcoming drama on Thursday morning, and it's safe to say the reception was rather split.
"That's great casting!" one X user commented in response to the trailer, while a second similarly expressed their desire to watch the show with the simple: "Oooo."
Others found themselves in a quandary. "Absolutely love Martin Clunes, but obviously absolutely hate Huw Edwards.. mixed feelings about this," one X user weighed in.
Meanwhile, others outright dismissed the project altogether. "Yuck," another social media user hit out, while a second critic branded it "grotesque sensationalism." (sic)
Huw Edwards received a suspended sentence for his crimes last year | PALATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Mr Edwards' career unravelled following a July 2023 report in The Sun claiming a senior BBC presenter had paid a teenager for sexual images.
Within days, his wife publicly identified him as the individual at the centre of these allegations.
The presenter was subsequently hospitalised and departed the corporation in April 2024 on medical grounds.
The BBC later revealed it had learned of his arrest on "suspicion of serious offences" in November 2023, whilst he remained suspended.
Martin Clunes was confirmed for the role late last year
| GETTYThe Metropolitan Police charged him in June 2024, and the following month he admitted to making indecent images of children.
Mr Edwards confessed to possessing 41 photographs, with seven classified as Category A – the most extreme classification of such material.
Among the images was content depicting a child as young as seven years old.
The 64-year-old received a six-month suspended prison sentence and was placed on the sex offenders' register.
Absolutely love Martin Clunes, but obviously absolutely hate Huw Edwards….. mixed feelings about this! https://t.co/xnDBadgytm
— ThisIsMeUK (@ThisIsMeUK1) March 5, 2026
The BBC stated that Mr Edwards would have faced immediate dismissal had he been charged whilst still employed by the corporation.
For two decades prior to his downfall, Mr Edwards had been among the BBC's highest-paid presenters, announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II and covering the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.