Hugh Edwards says Channel 5 drama ‘unlikely to report reality’ | Huw Edwards

Hugh Edwards has criticized Channel 5 for failing to “check the truth with me” before showing a drama depicting his downfall.

The former BBC presenter has been suspended from his role as a leading news presenter in 2023 after a report in The Sun newspaper said he paid a teenager £35,000 for intimate photos and conversations.

This episode has been starred in a new two-part show called Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, starring Martin Clunes, which airs from Tuesday at 9pm.

In a joint statement with the Daily Mail, Edwards criticized production company Wonderhood, saying: “[They] He made no attempt to verify with me the truth of any aspect of their story before moving forward with production.

“They have belatedly requested a response after the drama was shown, reserving the right to amend any such response. They have also refused to reveal whether any of those who have made the allegations have been paid for their contributions. Channel 5’s ‘reality drama’ is unlikely to convey the truth of what happened.”

Edwards, who has yet to watch the show, added: “It is difficult to see how this approach can be considered remotely responsible or fair, or be consistent with key sections of Ofcom’s code on broadcasting standards.”

Edwards also disputed the main claims made in The Sun, as the Channel 5 program points out.

Last week, Channel 5 defended the controversial drama, saying it raised an “urgent” issue of grooming and online safety, and gave a voice to Edwards’ alleged victim, who it said had worked with the show to tell their side of the story “so no one who has been silenced feels alone”.

Edwards’ statement indicated his “regret and remorse” for his crimes. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting three charges of possessing indecent images of children as young as seven.

Edwards said: “My deep remorse and remorse for the crimes I committed have been expressed in court. By pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I have taken full responsibility for my reprehensible actions. I am appalled that some people would enjoy viewing indecent images of children. Each image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I have done.”

Edwards said he intends to produce his own account of “these terrible events.”

He added: “This is a slow process given the fragile state of my health. I have been open about my struggle with mental illness over 25 years. What is less known is the severity of the condition, which was successfully managed until the downward spiral, which led to a horrific outcome.

“Mental illness is misunderstood by many, but it cannot be an excuse for criminality. However, it can at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.”

A Channel 5 spokesperson said: “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, journalists who uncovered his story, text message exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reports. It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s broadcasting code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his lawyers six weeks before broadcast.”