Huw Edwards is furious admits close friend, with presenter set to leave BBC for good

Huw Edwards is furious admits close friend, with presenter set to leave BBC for good
GB NEWS
Dan Falvey

By Dan Falvey


Published: 25/11/2023

- 09:18

Updated: 25/11/2023

- 11:55

John Sergeant told GB News about how his former colleague's feelings following an internal BBC inquiry

Huw Edwards is "very cross" at the way he's been treated, one of his close friends and former colleagues has told GB News, with the presenter set to leave the BBC.

It is thought the well known frontman of the News at Ten will part ways with the corporation following an internal inquiry.


Edwards was suspended by the BBC in July after allegations that he had paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit images.

Police investigators found no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing but BBC bosses launched a probe to determine if Edwards behaved inappropriately.

Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards is set to part company with the BBC

PA

It is understood that inquiry has now concluded with Edwards having been handed a copy of its findings to be given the opportunity to respond.

The presenter, who is the highest paid news staff member at the BBC, is expected to leave the corporation.

Responding to the latest development, journalist John Sergeant said the entire saga had been "personally upsetting".

Telling GB News of how how he goes "back a very long way" with Edwards, he said that the News at Ten anchor was angry at the way he had been treated.

BBC CONTOVERSIES:

John Sergeant

John Sergeant opened up on his friend on GB News

GB NEWS

John Sergeant

The veteran journalist said Huw Edwards was 'very cross'

GB NEWS

He said: "I've heard from some people that he's just very cross. Very cross about the way he was treated, very cross about what's happened.

"But the overall result is, as I saw, one of personal sadness and regret because he was an extremely talented man and I knew him in all his different guises and this is devastating."

Defending BBC executives who are claimed not to want Edwards to return to presenting duties, Sergeant added: "When you've had this amount of publicity, bad publicity, every programme of any sort has got to ask 'well how will the public relate to this person? Will they relate to him in the same way as they used to.'

"And the answer is, they won't."

Edwards' identity was originally protected in media reports when the claims first emerged, but his wife eventually went public to reveal the claims were in relation to her husband.

She made a statement after the Welshman was hospitalised to receive treatment for his mental health.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We would urge people not to indulge in speculation – as we have previously explained, we will not provide a commentary on what is an internal employment process nor on the latest bit of speculation on how things might stand."

You may like