Assist really
unbiased journalism
Our mission is to ship unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds energy to account and exposes the reality.
Whether or not $5 or $50, each contribution counts.
Assist us to ship journalism with out an agenda.
Huw Edwards has been requested at hand again the wage he earned from the company after being arrested on baby abuse picture expenses.
Previously the BBC’s most high-profile newsreader, Edwards continued to earn his wage for 5 months after he was arrested on three counts of constructing indecent pictures of youngsters, throughout which period he was paid greater than £200,000.
In a letter to workers the BBC Chair Samir Shah mentioned that Edwards had “behaved in unhealthy religion” – saying that the company believed he had taken his wage regardless of getting ready to plead responsible to the “appalling” offences.
The company was knowledgeable that Edwards had been arrested in November 2023 however continued to make use of the veteran broadcaster till April, when Edwards resigned on medical recommendation.
Edwards pleaded responsible to creating indecent pictures of youngsters on July 31, with the courtroom listening to he had been concerned in a web based chat with an grownup man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, who despatched him 377 sexual pictures, of which 41 have been indecent pictures of youngsters.
The BBC assertion mentioned: “There’s nothing extra vital than the general public’s belief within the BBC; the BBC board is the custodian of that belief.
“The board has met numerous occasions over the past week to evaluate info supplied by the chief referring to Huw Edwards. The board’s focus has been principally round two points.
“Firstly, what was identified within the lead as much as Mr Edwards being charged and pleading responsible final Wednesday to creating indecent pictures of youngsters; and, secondly, the specifics of the BBC’s dealing with of the complaints and the BBC’s personal investigations into MrEdwards, previous to his resignation on April 22 2024”.
The BBC Board additionally mentioned it backed Director Common Tim Davie’s dealing with of the matter.
Mr Davie confirmed final week that the BBC had identified that the presenter had been arrested over possessing essentially the most critical class of pictures.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
The assertion additionally introduced that the Board has commissioned an unbiased evaluate that can “make suggestions on sensible steps that might strengthen a office tradition consistent with BBC Values”.
Beforehand, Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy instructed Sky Information that she had requested to see the employment legislation recommendation given to the BBC, and known as for the company’s director-general Tim Davie to handle “excellent points”, and are available again to her.
The minister additionally mentioned of Edwards: “I feel he should return his wage.
“I feel having been arrested on such critical expenses all the best way again in November, to proceed to obtain that wage all through till he resigned is flawed and it’s not a superb use of taxpayers’ cash.”
Earlier than Edwards resigned, he was the broadcaster’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket between £475,000 and £479,999 for the yr 2023-24, in accordance with the BBC’s newest annual report.
It marked a £40,000 pay rise from 2022/23, when he was paid between £435,000 and £439,999.
In an interview with BBC Information on August 1 the director-general defended the rise, saying it was made up of an “inflationary enhance” and work Edwards did on the BBC in February 2023 earlier than any allegations have been made.
Mr Davie additionally mentioned in the identical interview that the company would “have a look at all choices” in making an attempt to reclaim pay from Edwards after the revelations, however dominated out doing the identical for his pension as a consequence of authorized causes.
The BBC beforehand mentioned after Edwards’ responsible plea that if he had been charged whereas he was nonetheless an worker it will have sacked him, however on the level of cost he not labored for the company.
