Everything that has happened to Huw Edwards since he pleaded guilty to child porn charges

On Wednesday, Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard the 62-year-old had been involved in an online chat with a 25-year-old convicted paedophile on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, who sent him 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children.

Huw Edwards had been a newsreader for the BBC for more than 40 years, leading the coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s death as well as the weddings of the Prince and Princess of Wales during his career.

But from universities stripping him of honours to the BBC wanting his salary back, this is everything that has happened to Huw Edwards since:

Cardiff University stripping him of his honours

Cardiff University is “actively reviewing” former BBC presenter, Huw Edwards’ honours after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. The TV presenter had previously been awarded an honorary fellowship from the institution for journalism. The uni has since taken action, removing his profile from its online “People” page.

In 2007, Edwards became an honorary professor of journalism at Cardiff University, following being appointed as an honorary fellow of the University of Wales in 2003. A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “In light of a guilty plea, Cardiff University is actively reviewing procedures in relation to the honorary fellowship award and his position as an honorary professor. We have no further comment on the matter.”

York St. John University  is also planning on stripping him of his honorary degree

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Huw Edwards is also set to be stripped of his honorary degree from York St. John University, reports YorkMix. The university said it has “begun the process to preview” the degree and has recommended it is “rescinded”.

He received a Doctor of Letters from York St John in November 2019, when he was described by the university “as the country’s master of ceremonies, regularly leading broadcasts of major national and international events”.

Huw Edwards made a speech to graduates at a degree ceremony in York Minster. He said: “I suppose my main bit of advice to students is to be ambitious – to think about goals for life and career, and to think about how they can be helpful to other people. I think that’s the big thing – to be generous in the way that you handle yourself as you go through your career.

“The second thing is communicating – clearly and precisely. Use of language is absolutely crucial, and people make a very quick decision on how able you are based on how you speak and communicate.”

A spokesperson from York St John University said: “York St John University recognised Huw Edwards with an honorary degree in 2019 for his services to national news broadcasting. Subsequently, the university has had no engagement with him.

“In light of the outcome of legal proceedings on Wednesday, July 31, our Honorary Awards Committee has begun the process to review Mr Edwards’ honorary degree with a recommendation that it is rescinded.”

BBC trying to get its money back from him

The BBC’s director general Tim Davie has said the BBC will “look at all options” to get back Huw Edwards’ pay.

The Welsh journalist was the corporation’s highest-paid newsreaders, with a pay bracket between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24, according to the BBC’s latest annual report.

Huw Edwards was paid £200,000 after he was arrested in November while he was suspended by the broadcaster up until he resigned in April on medical advice.

When asked about the 62-year-old keeping the money, Tim Davie told BBC News that the sums were “very difficult to claw back, nigh on impossible”. He added: “When it comes to pay, again, [it is] legally challenging, but we’ll look at all options.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Huw Edwards should return the pay himself. She said: “I think he ought to return his salary.

“I think having been arrested on such serious charges all the way back in November, to continue to receive that salary all the way through until he resigned is wrong and it’s not a good use of taxpayers’ money.

“I think most people in the country will agree with that but whether he does that or not is up to him.”

The BBC has removed an episode of Doctor Who that Huw Edwards had a cameo in

The BBC has today removed an episode of Doctor Who from iPlayer, as it featured a cameo from Huw Edwards.

The BBC have removed Doctor Who episode "Fear Her" from iPlayer, as it has a cameo by Huw Edwards.https://t.co/GCOjWxtgos

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) August 2, 2024

Huw Edwards featured as himself in Series two episode Fear Her, broadcast in 2006 as part of David Tennant’s debut series as the Tenth Doctor alongside Billie Piper as companion Rose Tyler. In the episode, the TARDIS lands in 2012 with the Doctor planning to show Rose the London Olympics. The episode was removed from iPlayer today. The BBC has not yet commented on the move or confirmed whether it plans to re-upload the episode with edits.

The BBC released a statement

Via Phil Lewis/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Earlier this week, the BBC released a statement about the whole case. It said: “The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected. The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless, in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year.

“In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation. At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.

“Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court. If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.

“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions. We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”

When will Huw Edwards be sentenced?

After pleading guilty in court on Wednesday, Huw Edwards was granted bail but will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on the 16th of September where he will be sentenced and could face up to ten years in prison.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Breaking: Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children

• Huw Edwards charged with making indecent images of children: Here is everything we know

• Full statement as Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter in ‘explicit photos’ scandal

Featured image via Phil Lewis/SOPA Images/Shutterstock.