Huw Edwards has hinted that he intends to speak out about the events that led to his conviction for making indecent images of children later this year – after criticising a TV drama serialising the saga that led to his retreat from public life.
The 64-year-old convicted paedophile has been dismissive of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, the Channel 5 dramatisation of the scandal that brought him down, claiming the programme’s makers did not fact-check it with him.
One-time star newsreader Edwards pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images in July 2024, for which he was given a suspended six-month prison sentence in September that year.
Among the pictures were seven category A images – the most serious classification – sent to him on WhatsApp by convicted sex offender Alex Williams.
Last week, Channel 5 aired its dramatisation of the events leading up to the disgraced ex-BBC star’s conviction, starring Martin Clunes, to mixed critical reviews.
Edwards has hit out at the ‘one-sided’ programme in a new statement, hinting that ‘opportunities will arise later this year for me to state my case’.
The Daily Mail understands that he has fielded offers to produce a documentary, a podcast or TV series – though it is not known if he has taken these up.
However, he has parted ways with Barry Tomes, the publicist he approached several months ago in order to begin rebuilding his public profile.
Tomes says he stepped back from working with Edwards having ‘never charged a penny’, issuing a statement days after a toe-curling interview on Good Morning Britain in which he was challenged on representing a convicted sex offender.
Huw Edwards says he will have ‘opportunities’ to tell his side of his story later this year after pleading guilty to making indecent images in July 2024 (pictured)
He has parted ways with publicist Barry Tomes (pictured with Edwards), who said he had offered his services ‘pro bono’ for seven days
Edwards said in his statement: ‘Much has been written and reported in the past week following Channel 5’s one-sided account.
‘Other opportunities will arise later this year for me to state my case, and to challenge the misleading or fabricated claims made in recent coverage.
‘A number of serious questions still remain to be answered, and not just by me.
‘It will now take some time for me to produce my own account, and until then I do not intend to comment any further.’
The statement was issued by Tomes, who confirmed in a communique to reporters that he would no longer represent the paedophile after giving him a week of free media representation.
Tomes said: ‘Following the media frenzy for the past ten days surrounding the Channel 5 factual drama Power, I agreed to act as the publicist on behalf of Huw Edwards for seven days only on a pro bono basis to give media advice.
‘This offer was made by me and not sought by Edwards.
‘Today, I met in person with Huw Edwards and delivered all the communications I received to him with a basic explanation.
‘Many included offers for interviews, documentaries and other forms of media activity.
‘This, despite me repeatedly stating that I am not seeking any media work for Edwards. I cannot add anything further.’
The publicist appeared on Good Morning Britain last week to discuss the Channel 5 drama, but the conversation quickly turned to why Tomes was representing Edwards at all.
Asking why he wanted to find the ‘black box’ explaining the newsreader’s actions, presenter Ed Balls asked why he had chosen to represent ‘a convicted paedophile, class A images, which he admitted in court’.
‘Quite simply, I would like to find out why these things happen generally, why do powerful men do these things,’ Tomes replied.
Ed retorted: ‘But you’re not investigating, you’re his publicist. You’re telling his story.’
Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards in the Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. Edwards himself has blasted the programme as ‘one-sided’
In a statement issued after the interview, Tomes said in a separate statement that he had spent ‘seven days working on behalf of a convicted paedophile’ and had not charged him for his services.
‘Was it my £5000 fee for a week’s consultation? No, I never charged a penny,’ he said.
‘I am the only person in the UK media this week that didn’t earn money from a story about a paedophile.’
He has also since spoken out about the interview, telling lawyer and broadcaster Andrew Eborn’s podcast that it was not a ‘car crash’.
‘I had my seatbelt on, we were all perfectly safe. Had a nice cup of tea afterwards,’ he said.
Channel 5 has defended the drama, which it said was ‘based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting’.
A spokesperson said last month of the programme: ‘It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.’
Edwards’ comments come as the BBC continues to deal with the fallout after sacking Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills over allegations of serious sexual offences dating back to the 1990s.
It has emerged that the BBC had known for years that Mills had been interviewed by the Met Police in 2018 over the allegations. The case was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service over a lack of evidence.
But the broadcaster only took the step of dismissing Mills on Friday after learning that his accuser had been a child under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged offences.
Mills said yesterday that he ‘fully cooperated’ with the investigation, which was first launched in 2016.
He added: ‘Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed seven years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.
‘I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.’
