THIS is the moment Huw Edwards’ rep is accused of being “a publicist for a paedophile” in a fiery TV interview.
Ed Balls hit out at the former newsreader’s publicist Barry Tomes on Good Morning Britain.
The rep appeared on the show following a Channel 5 drama which charts how Edwards, 64, groomed a young man on social media, while paying him for explicit images.
The Sun exposed his shocking behaviour three years ago.
Ed and Susanna Reid interviewed the “self-appointed” publicist who said he wanted to find out “why this happened” and Edwards wanted to “tell his side”.
Fuming Ed lashed out and said: “The problem is, he is a paedophile and you are his publicist, which means that you are a publicist for a paedophile.
“I mean it was worse than that, and then he goes on to use his mental illness as a excuse. He goes on to say he hopes that will explain how he behaved.”
Tomes said that the main reaction to the Channel 5 drama was to praise Martin Clunes‘s portrayal of Edwards.
He said: “Shouldn’t those conversations be about the awful thing that happened?
“Shouldn’t we be talking about that side of it? I want to find out why this happened.
“He’s not the first famous man to have these issues and there’ll be more unless we can figure out why”.
He went on to agree that “mental illness is not an excuse for criminality” but said “maybe it’s an explanation as to why you do things that are out of character”.
Edwards has ignored BBC pleas to return the £200,000 he was paid after his arrest on paedophile charges.
The corporation’s chairman said that the former News at Ten anchor has repeatedly been asked to “just give it back”.
Edwards was on £475,000 a year when he was arrested in November 2023 over child abuse images.
He was not sacked, even though some senior BBC staff knew he had been held and was allowed to step down on medical grounds in April 2024.
Asked whether Edwards should return the £200,000 salary that followed his suspension, Tomes said: “I wouldn’t pay it back. He had a contract, his contract was terminated and he was paid.
“If they think they should have it back, have they started legal proceedings? I’m not sure, but I personally wouldn’t, no.”
Tomes said the Channel 5 documentary Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards made Edwards feel like he needed to respond “earlier than he is ready”.
The ex-BBC presenter spoke ahead of the drama, for the first time since The Sun exposed his behaviour three years ago.
In a whining statement, Edwards said: “[Programme producers Wonderhood] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.
“They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response.
“They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.
“Channel 5’s ‘factual drama’ is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.”
The broadcaster separately pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, and in September of the same year he was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He didn’t hand himself in but was caught after another paedophile was arrested who had been sending him hideous images.
During the police investigation, a number of WhatsApp messages was found on his phone including an exchange with the man who was later convicted of sex offences.
Paedophile Alex Williams sent Edwards 377 images via the app, including 41 indecent images of children, some showing a victim aged between seven and nine.
Edwards’ statement goes on to say: “My deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court.
“In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions.
“I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children.
“Every image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I did.”
Edwards also said he plans to tell his side of the story, but added it is a “slow process given the fragile state of my health“.
