Huw Edwards last planned TV appearance cancelled at last minute -Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Huw Edwards had been due to appear on The One Show but his appearance was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

The BBC News anchor, 61, was named by his wife Vicky Flind as the suspended presenter who had been accused of paying for explicit pictures from a young person, among other allegations, on Wednesday evening.

In a statement, she said the veteran broadcaster, who has been previously open about his battle with depression, is suffering from ‘serious mental health issues’ and ‘is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.’

Edwards had been scheduled for an appearance on The One Show last Thursday (July 6), the date BBC said they had received allegations of a ‘different nature’ concerning the presenter, having previously been contacted with claims in May.

At the end of Wednesday’s (July 5) episode of the long-running talk show, host Alex Jones introduced the next day’s instalment, telling viewers: ‘Tomorrow Sir Lenny Henry, Huw Edwards and Katya Adler will be here. Have a lovely evening, we will see you then. Goodbye.’

On BBC iPlayer at the time of writing, Thursday’s episode description reads: ‘Alex Jones and Roman Kemp speak to Sir Lenny Henry about his new children’s book. Huw Edwards and Katya Adler tell us what we can expect from this year’s Proms. Plus, Steve Backshall on the creatures living in our seas.’

Huw Edwards was named as the presenter suspended by the BBC(Picture: Pixel8000)

His wife released a statement saying he was receiving care for mental health problems(Picture: PA)

However, Edwards did not appear on the episode and instead Adler, 51, was joined by fellow BBC Proms host Petroc Trelawny to discuss the annual classical music event.

The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday that no criminal offence has been committed by Edwards, and that no specific details or information about further allegations reported in the media have been provided to them.

The Sun, which published the initial allegation, said it has no plans to publish further allegations and will co-operate with the BBC’s internal investigation process.

Edwards is still listed in the description for The One Show although did not appear (Picture: BBC)

Instead Petroc joined Katya to discuss the BBC Proms (Picture: BBC)

The broadcaster confirmed it will continue its ‘fact-finding investigations’ into Edwards, which comes as BBC Newsnight reported new claims from one current and one former BBC worker, who said they had received ‘inappropriate messages’ from Edwards, ‘some late at night and signed off with kisses.’

Both said there was ‘a reluctance among junior staff to complain to managers about the conduct of high-profile colleagues in case it adversely affected their careers,’ the programme said.

Following the family statement, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a note to staff it is ‘important’ that the work on the internal investigation continues, adding: ‘I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process.’

The BBC said it was continuing with ‘fact-finding investigations’ (Picture: BBC)

He also stressed that the corporation’s ‘immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.’

Broadcasters, including  Dan Walker, Jon Sopel and Alistair Campbell have since spoken out and expressed their concern for Edwards, while Piers Morgan also addressed the situation on his TalkTV programme.

Describing Edwards as a ‘stand up guy,’  Morgan said: ‘Clearly Huw Edwards is now in a very serious situation. He probably feels like he’s losing everything.

More: Trending

‘Whatever the outcome of the investigation, it would be inhuman not to think about the impact of all this on him, on his family, on his mental health, all of those are important things to consider now.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.

The One Show is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More