BBC demands Huw Edwards repay nearly a year’s salary after ‘appalling’ crime-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

The BBC continued to pay Edwards after his arrest in November (Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

The BBC has asked Huw Edwards to repay his salary after he pleaded guilty to having indecent images of children.

The broadcaster is seeking the return of the disgraced anchor’s earnings since November when he was arrested and said his crimes had brought them into ‘disrepute.’

It previously admitted it knew of his arrest on ‘suspicion of serious offences’ but continued employing him until April, when he resigned on medical advice.

Edwards was the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and earned £475,000 and £479,999 from 2023 until 2024, a pay rise of £40,000 from the previous year.

Today a statement from the BBC Board said: ‘Today, the Board has authorised the Executive to seek the return of salary paid to Mr Edwards from the time he was arrested in November last year.

‘Mr Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime. Had he been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money.

‘He has clearly undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute.’

There had been repeated calls for Edwards to pay back his salary, including from This Morning’s Josie Gibson and the Culture Secretary.

Last month, the veteran broadcaster admitted having 41 child sex abuse images on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.

In court, Edwards pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children between December 2020 and April 2021.

The child abuse materials that were sent to Edwards by 25-year-old convicted paedophile Alex Williams included seven category A, the worst, 12 category B, and 22 category C.

Of the category A images, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine, the court was told.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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