Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter in sexually explicit photo scandal

One of Britain's leading anchors, Huw Edwards, has been named by his wife as the BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teenager thousands of pounds in exchange for sexually explicit photos. 

The episode had left one of British television’s most famous faces “suffering from serious mental health issues” and “receiving inpatient hospital care, where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future,” Edwards' wife Vicky Flind said in a statement on Wednesday.

Flind confirmed her husband was the man in question after rumors swirled on social media over the past few days.

“As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years,” she said.

“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future,” she added. 

The statement did not detail any of the allegations made against Edwards over the past week.

Flind said that she hoped the statement would bring an end to recent media speculation about other BBC presenters.

“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected,” the statement said.

She also said Edwards “was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday” and that he intends to respond “once well enough to do so.”

BBC rocked by a scandal

In recent days, the BBC has been rocked by scandal following a recent report by the Sun tabloid that a veteran news anchor had paid $45,000 (35,000 British pounds) for the explicit images over three years beginning when the young person was 17.

 It said the payments that had been received by the victim were used to purchase illegal drugs.

“When I see him on telly, I feel sick,” the youth’s mother exclaimed. “I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.”

“Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”

The young person’s family first attempted to complain about Edwards’s behavior by walking into a BBC office in May. They then called the BBC’s complaints line – usually used by members of the public unhappy with what they have watched on screen.

The Sun’s story unleashed widespread speculation on social media and forced several BBC broadcasters including Jeremy Vine, Nicky Campbell and Gary Lineker to state publicly it was not them.

The BBC recently suspended the presenter but did not name him. Several BBC stars have taken to social media to say they were not involved after speculation swirled online.

BBC presenter reportedly paid teenager for sexually explicit photos

BBC is ‘very seriously’ examining a case regarding one of its presenters allegedly paying a teenager in exchange for sexual photos, a spokesperson says.

Edwards, 61, has led coverage of the biggest events in Britain since the turn of the century, including elections, royal weddings and the 2012 Olympics. He has been one of the most recognizable faces on UK television and was the man entrusted with telling the world that Queen Elizabeth II had died.

Further claims have since been made against the presenter as three more people came forward with complaints over the past two days.

Earlier reports related to sexual abuse allegations linked to former BBC presenters Jimmy Savile and James Stuart Hall had been fiercely critical of the UK media corporation for its failure to prevent such cases.

“Serious failings at the BBC allowed Savile and Hall to sexually abuse nearly 100 people for decades,” said the 2016 reports published by an independent inquiry investigating the abuse cases.

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