Huw Edwards 'tried to groom teenager with personal BBC tour offer', documentary claims

A caller documentary has claimed that disgraced erstwhile newsreader Huw Edwards tried to groom a teenage instrumentalist by offering them a circuit of the BBC

A caller documentary has made immoderate superior allegation claiming that disgraced erstwhile newsreader Huw Edwards tried to groom a teenage instrumentalist by offering them a circuit of the BBC.

According to the caller allegations, Edwards, 63, made an attack aft seeing the youngster execute successful schoolhouse uniform. The documentary alleges the erstwhile News astatine 10 presenter approached the teen and asked them to travel him connected Instagram.

The allegations suggest helium had made inappropriate interaction with the budding musician, including calling them "babe" and "big boy" portion allegedly promising to assistance with their euphony career. It's alleged that the student, who was aged 18 astatine the time, was offered a idiosyncratic circuit of the newsroom by Edwards.

Speaking to Welsh connection broadcaster S4C's programme Y Byd ar Bedwar, the accuser said: "People similar him judge they tin bash immoderate they want, and maltreatment their power." They went connected to picture however helium had been performing astatine a assemblage performance wherever Edwards was the compère.

He continued to assertion connected the documentary: "He came up to maine astatine the extremity of the nighttime to accidental hello. He said that the show was good, that I was precise talented and that helium wanted to link with me. He asked maine if I wanted to conscionable him successful London and person a circuit of the BBC, wherever I could conscionable a fewer contacts."

The instrumentalist is said to person accepted the circuit and had been introduced to Edwards' colleagues arsenic a "friend" who had a "musical talent". He added Edwards' alleged promises ne'er came to fruition. The idiosyncratic down the claims said they thought the broadcaster's connection was "banterous" astatine archetypal earlier realising it wasn't. He added: "He was trying to flirt. It was immoderate benignant of grooming communication."

He said aft helium didn't instrumentality the flirty responses, Edwards unfollowed him connected the societal media channel. "'He conscionable mislaid involvement successful me," helium claimed."I don't deliberation I gave him what helium was looking for." The allegations travel 2 months aft Edwards was fixed a six-month suspended jailhouse condemnation aft helium admitted 3 counts of making indecent images of children.

Following Edwards' case, Director-general Tim Davie admitted the BBC’s estimation had been harmed. Last month, the organisation launched a reappraisal into its enactment civilization aft a bid of scandals including the disgraced newsreader. It volition beryllium led by Grahame Russell, caput of Change Associates, and is expected to study adjacent spring.

BBC president Samir Shah said: “I cannot emphasise capable that I americium afloat committed to tackling inappropriate oregon abusive behaviour. What is wide to maine is that we indispensable guarantee the BBC is simply a safe, unafraid and welcoming workplace for everyone.”

Edwards was spared jailhouse successful September aft admitting accessing indecent images of children arsenic young arsenic seven. The 63-year-old antecedently admitted 3 charges of “making” indecent photographs aft helium was sent 41 amerciable images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams implicit WhatsApp.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court connected September 16, Edwards held his hands unneurotic and leaned guardant passim his sentencing proceeding arsenic helium was handed six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Edwards told Williams “go on” erstwhile asked if helium wanted “naughty pics and vids” of idiosyncratic described arsenic “yng (sic)”.

Chief Magistrate, territory justice Paul Goldspring, said reputational and fiscal harm was the “natural effect of your behaviour which you brought upon yourself”. The BBC said Edwards had “betrayed not conscionable the BBC, but audiences who enactment their spot successful him” – adding that the corp was “appalled by his crimes”.