Martin Clunes has opened up about the emotional toll of portraying disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards, revealing he “feels sorry” for the former broadcaster’s family as he addressed their absence in a new TV drama.
The actor, 64, takes on the role of Edwards in Channel 5’s upcoming programme Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, set to air on Tuesday 24 March.
The drama explores Mr Edwards’s interactions with a teenage victim, referred to as Ryan, and Mr Clunes admitted filming those scenes was deeply uncomfortable.
“It was hard towards the end,” he said. “Hearing the vulnerable voice of this boy and the hurt in those exchanges — I didn’t feel very nice after filming them.”
The actor embodied the former newreader and studied his mannerisms
|CHANNEL 5
Despite the heavy subject matter, Mr Clunes said he was supported by both his co-star Osian Morgan, who plays Ryan, and a trusted camera crew he had worked with before.
The programme has already sparked debate about whether it is too soon to dramatise events following Mr Edwards’s conviction.
But Channel 5 executives have defended the timing, arguing the drama highlights important issues such as grooming, online safety, and abuse of power.
Mr Clunes also addressed why the story does not explore Mr Edwards’s family life — a notable omission given the public attention surrounding them.
The former BBC employee pleaded guilty to having indicent images of children
|BBC
“Huw Edwards is the bad guy,” he said bluntly. “We don’t need to see the bad guy’s family.”
Still, he was clear that he does feel empathy for them.
“I do feel sorry for them,” he admitted. “There’s no denying that families of people who commit these crimes are secondary victims. But this is Ryan’s story.”
By keeping the focus on the victim’s experience, Mr Clunes believes the drama delivers a more powerful and necessary message — even if it means leaving parts of the wider story untold.
Mr Clunes said he felt sorry for Mr Edwards' family
|CHANNEL 5
While Mr Clunes underwent a striking physical transformation to embody the former BBC presenter, he said the story deliberately avoids focusing on #Mr Edwards’s family — a decision he stands by, despite acknowledging their suffering.
Mr Clunes altered his appearance significantly for the role, pinning back his ears and following the 5:2 diet in a bid to mirror Mr Edwards’s look.
He also carefully studied the presenter’s mannerisms, from his precise haircut and side-parting to his distinctive posture behind the news desk.
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The star was captured during his time in court
|GETTY
“I don’t really sound like him, but we watched him every night on TV — he seeps in a bit,” Mr Clunes explained, adding that he and his wife spent hours listening to archive recordings to capture Mr Edwards’s unique vocal rhythms.
That preparation extended to recreating some of Mr Edwards’s most recognisable moments, including his delivery of the news of the Queen’s death in 2022.
“That needed real mimicry,” Mr Clunes said. “Those rhythms and sounds had to be spot on.”
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