BBC forced to remove podcast in which Huw Edwards makes Strictly boast

Panicked BBC bosses were forced to hastily region a podcast successful which its enactment offender erstwhile presenter Huw Edwards boasts astir being begged to look connected Strictly Come Dancing.

Edwards, 63, who discontinue the broadcaster during a constabulary probe into kid pornography offences, gushes astir the invitation during a cosy chat with Radio 2 fable Steve Wright.

The interview, connected Steve Wright's Big Guests podcast, sees the present shamed father-of-five crook up to question a “seal of approval” for a prima crook connected the show.

It was archetypal broadcast successful January 2019 with the now-convicted enactment offender past described arsenic a "beloved antheral of the people”.

But it was instantly taken disconnected BBC Sounds - the corporation’s vigor streaming work - aft the Daily Express flagged its sickening contented successful the airy of Edwards’ condemnation this month.

Appearing alongside Wright, who died successful February astatine 69, Edwards was described arsenic a "tease" for saying helium would ponder an connection implicit the summer.

In the extremity helium did not look successful the 17th bid featuring erstwhile Olympian James Cracknell, TV presenter Anneka Rice, erstwhile footballer David James and eventual winner, Emmerdale histrion Kelvin Fletcher.

On being squeezed into tight-fitting costumes connected the show, helium said: "That's what truly scares maine actually."

Edwards received 41 images implicit respective months from a convicted enactment offender (Image: Getty)

Edwards told however producers tried to lure him onto the smash deed BBC One Saturday nighttime dancing spectacular arsenic its prima crook aft “setting the British tv satellite alight”.

Wright, who died successful February astatine 69, told Welsh-born Edwards helium would beryllium an "awesome contestant" to helium replied: "Despite each appearances, I'm rather shy."

He besides expressed pridefulness astatine being adjacent to the Royal Family and being trusted to big bluish riband events, adding: "I emotion Trooping The Colour.

"It's a fantastic broadcast. One of the biggest extracurricular broadcasts the BBC does and it's the afloat works, the champion subject show successful the world. It's a superb thing. The music's fantastic.

"The [late] Queen loves it. She's determination tapping her ft to the subject marches and I emotion the full day.”

Edwards besides boasted astir his narration with the royals, hinting that helium was adjacent to them. When asked whether the Queen, who died successful September 2022, knew him by name, helium said: "One can't betray these confidences.”

Wright is past heard to congratulate “our friend” connected his "hunky and youthful” look.

The erstwhile newscaster was paid £450,000 a twelvemonth by taxpayers (Image: Getty)

The shamed erstwhile News astatine Ten anchor - paid £450,000 a twelvemonth - escaped jailhouse contempt paying up to £1,500 to a paedophile pal who sent him 41 kid enactment images.

In July, helium pleaded blameworthy to charges of making indecent images. On September 16 helium was handed a six-month jailhouse sentence, suspended for 2 years.

During his sentencing proceeding Edwards did not person a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, meaning helium is escaped to bash what helium wants with his mobile telephone arsenic determination are nary restrictions placed connected its use.

It means the disgraced presenter is inactive allowed to substance paedophile person Alex Williams, 25, who sent him a catalogue of sick enactment images.

Edwards admitted 3 charges of “making” indecent photographs aft helium was sent 41 amerciable images by Williams implicit WhatsApp.

Of those received, the estimated property of astir of the children was betwixt 13 and 15, but 1 was aged betwixt 7 and nine.

Ex-Met Police commandant Peter Bleksley called Edwards’ condemnation “shameful, pathetic and appalling”, adding: “It’s violative to each right-minded radical who judge children are to beryllium protected.”

The BBC refused to remark but confirmed the occurrence had been removed.