by BBC insiders have claimed there is “no way back” for 62-year-old presenter Huw Edwards, who was shown the results of the corporation’s internal fact-finding investigation. The inquiry was established following allegations made in July that Edwards paid a 17-year-old for explicit images.
The teenager’s mother claimed the money Edwards paid out was used to fund a crack cocaine habit. However, the young person in question later disputed that question and called it “rubbish”.
More allegations were then made about Edwards’ behaviour. He allegedly sent “inappropriate” messages to three members of staff, one of whom said the messages made them feel “uncomfortable”. Edwards also broke lockdown rules to visit someone he met on a dating site.
The exact results of the inquiry are yet to be made public. The question is how serious they are, and whether Edwards can find a way back into public life.
Edwards was the BBC’s highest paid journalist, on an annual salary of £435,000, and was regarded as the face of the corporation. He announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II and led the audience through her funeral. It was hoped that it would form the basis of next year’s general election – but that now looks impossible.
So what path, if any, could Edwards take?
Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski says the most important thing to consider is the presenter’s mental health. “When you talk about possible careers, first of all, it’s about how he can get back to a place, in his own head, where he can move on. I suspect that if the report is not in his favor, it will take him to a dark place again.”
Borkowski suggests that Edwards will be looking for “bad weather friends” to support him when he loses the support of the BBC. “When you’ve nurtured the corporation, worked through different departments, anchored the biggest events of the last five years – especially the death of the late Queen – and you have that power and attention, it’s huge what a surprise it is suddenly. to be in this condition.”
Borkowski praises Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, who “filled the news vacuum created by anonymous accusations and took control of the story”. It was Flind who named Edwards as the BBC’s accused figure, and also told the world that he was receiving inpatient hospital care for serious mental health issues.
Borkowski said that helped Edwards “regain some traction in terms of his image”. His disappearing act helped too. “Since you don’t have a single picture to keep his name in the conversation – like those sad pictures of the person sitting with friends in a cafe bar, or getting out of rehab – that’s a good move. Whoever is taking care of him, I think Andy Coulson [the former News of the World editor, who is advising the Edwards family]doing the right job.
“We’ve seen other people skewered since then, like Russell Brand. He took the heat out of Huw Edwards, just as Huw took the heat out of Phillip Schofield.”
But in Borkowski’s opinion, Edwards will have to decide soon whether he wants to leave the public eye forever, or take his career in a new direction. For the former to work, he must be honest with the public.
“He still hasn’t talked about his personal demons. The story is out there. But if he gives that first interview – which will be in high demand – and talks about his mental health struggles, it starts his journey back. That is, if he delivers it in the right way: the community is great if it’s real and authentic.”
In fact, Borkowski thinks Edwards could be a valuable advocate, speaking out on an important issue. “He has so much to offer, and so much guidance to give, about what it’s like to be in that place that he can’t really be because of the pressures of that public role. He could speak honestly about a relatable situation; many people are imprisoned by their own demons. But he had the scrutiny of the whole nation for two weeks – that’s unique.”
Of course, that would only work if Edwards is in a healthy enough place to withstand more scrutiny by speaking publicly about the most difficult time in his life and a crisis in his career.
A book might have been a safer option, if Edwards had met favorably with a publisher (and he would certainly have been offered a big advance to tell his whole candid story). However, Edwards would need to be prepared for strong questioning while on the campaign trail.
One thing is certain, says Borkowski: “It’s not an option for him to come back as a mainstream broadcaster.” The corporation is unlikely to come to his aid either. “The BBC is a slow-moving organization full of its own demons. He will defend his own reputation – and, unfortunately, he has a habit of throwing people under the bus.”
But, Borkowski continues, “there’s a lot of ways it could go, like the streamers. You now have more ability to create your own content or choose a new medium that works for you, like podcasting.”
Edwards could tackle another area – from the news to one of his areas of passion, such as British culture or history, or something to do with his Christian faith. He has already presented the documentary Bread of Heaven, about religion in Wales, and the historical series The Story of Wales.
Edwards is a keen amateur organist, sometimes playing at Jewin Welsh Presbyterian Church in north London, and has numerous connections with musical organisations: he was honorary president of the Gwalia Living Choir from 2005 to 2016, awarded a Royal Welsh fellowship. College of Music & Drama in 2019, and became vice-president of The Bach Choir in 2022. He narrated the BBC Four documentary Organ Stops in 2022.
That would certainly be a less controversial area should he eventually return to broadcasting – if he wanted to come back. It could, for example, interview music greats on a podcast, or promote Welsh arts organizations in a series for Netflix or Apple TV+. If Wrexham AFC can become international stars, anything is possible.
However, that may depend on the public’s response to the inquiry’s findings, and whether arts organizations and/or streaming services are willing to partner with it.
We probably won’t see Edwards following the likes of Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage on I’m A Celebrity. His main asset is his gravitas – something that wouldn’t survive diving up a kangaroo’s anus in the jungle.
But it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that he could win the hearts of the public with a genial waltz on Strictly Come Dancing, or appear on a lower profile reality show like, say, the Stand Up To Cancer version of Bake Off.
Or could Edwards find a whole new audience in Millennials or Gen Z if he stops talking about mental health and the pressures of celebrity? That sounds closer to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s end.
Borkowski is skeptical. “Those generations already have their own heroes,” he says. “Actually, there are a lot of people who are a bit older and don’t have the same ability to express themselves for whatever reason. It could probably represent more people.”
Edwards’ break with the BBC could even be a career opportunity, if he plays his cards right. Borkowski draws comparisons with sports pundits Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who left Sky Sports after being criticized for sexist behaviour, but now work for Al Jazeera Qatar’s BeIN Sports – “and arguably get an audience more than when they were on Sky”.
Likewise, Edwards might turn this to his advantage, Borkowski predicted. “He still has a great ability as a communicator and a great presence.” This could be the beginning of a whole new chapter.
