Martin Clunes has revealed why he chose to step into one of the darkest roles of his career, portraying disgraced former BBC presenter Huw Edwards in a new television drama exploring the scandal that ended the newsreader’s career.
The drama, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, follows the events that culminated in Edwards pleading guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 31, 2024, to making indecent images of children.
The turn of events marked a shocking fall from grace for a man once trusted to deliver some of the nation’s most historic news, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Mr Clunes, best known for his long-running role in Doc Martin, underwent a physical and vocal transformation to play Edwards, even pinning back his ears and following a strict diet.
The disgraced newsreader pleaded guilty to having indicent images of children
|GETTY
He also immersed himself in archive footage to perfect the broadcaster’s distinctive delivery.
“Edwards delivering the news of the Queen’s death is so well known that it needed mimicry from me,” Mr Clunes explained. “Those rhythms and sounds had to be spot on.”
The actor said he was fascinated by the contrast between Mr Edwards’s public persona and his private actions, which the drama explores through messages between the presenter and a vulnerable teenager, played by Osian Morgan.
“What’s so fascinating about this is that we saw Edwards in our homes every night,” Mr Clunes said. “Because he was in the public eye, it just seemed to amplify everything.”
The Channel 5 series delves into the stars fall from grace
|CHANNEL 5
The actor did not shy away from describing the crimes depicted in the drama as “awful,” adding: “There’s no way back from that.”
Despite the risks of taking on such a controversial role — particularly for an actor so closely associated with warm, reassuring characters — Mr Clunes said he never hesitated.
In preparing for the role, Mr Clunes said he was struck by Mr Edwards’s off-screen demeanour and when listening to recordings with his wife, he found something unsettling.
“You thought that he would be off duty and fun, but he was being quite creepy. I had it on my phone and would listen just to keep his interesting rhythms.”
Martin Clunes revealed he thought the former reporter was 'creepy' off camera
|GETTY
The drama also touches on how the story became public after the teenager’s family approached The Sun in 2023.
While the film credits the tabloid with helping bring the case to light, Mr Clunes was clear it has not changed his broader view of the press.
Notably, the drama largely avoids depicting Mr Edwards’s family, aside from referencing a public statement by his wife, but for Mr Clunes, that was a deliberate choice.
The Doc Martin actor also admitted he was taken aback by how modern technology played a role in the case, describing himself as largely removed from social media and digital communication.
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The latest role is far from the actors usual projects
|CHANNEL 5
Despite the heavy subject matter, the role reflects Mr Clunes’s commitment to challenging himself as an actor — even if it means stepping far outside the comfort zone that made him a household name.
“I like to kind of get lost in someone. To lose me and just try to be them, rather than turning up and being charming.
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