Huw Edwards accused of sending ‘flirtatious’ messages to BBC employees | UK News

Huw Edwards has been accused of sending inappropriate messages to BBC workers.

The newsreader was named yesterday because the presenter who had been suspended for allegedly paying £35,000 to a young person in trade for sexually express photos.

In line with Newsnight, one present BBC employees member claims they have been contacted on social media by Edwards, and the messages left them uncomfortable and feeling awkward.

Huw Edwards newest: BBC presenter ‘suffering serious mental health issues’

The messages have been reportedly suggestive in nature, gave the impression to be flirtatious, and referred to his colleague’s look.

“There’s a energy dynamic that makes this inappropriate,” the employees member mentioned.

One other BBC worker alleged that Edwards had additionally despatched them a personal message on social media that commented on their look and gave them a “chilly shudder”.

In the meantime, somebody who used to work on the company – who had by no means met the newsreader – claimed that they had acquired late-night messages from Edwards that have been signed off with kisses.

The previous worker instructed BBC Newsnight that they felt this amounted to an abuse of energy.

Two of the three complainants mentioned they felt they may not report their allegations of inappropriate behaviour to BBC managers.

A BBC spokesperson instructed Sky Information: “We’re speaking with employees and can proceed to take action. We at all times deal with the considerations of employees with care, and would at all times urge any employees members to talk to us if they’ve any considerations.

“We now have clear processes for making complaints inside the organisation, together with whistleblowing procedures ought to somebody want to take action anonymously.”

Huw Edwards in hospital

Allegations concerning the presenter had first been made by The Solar final Friday, however their id was not formally confirmed for 5 days.

They have been suspended by the BBC on Sunday – and in latest days, additional allegations have been made by numerous different younger complainants.

A number of different high-profile BBC hosts – together with Gary Lineker, Jeremy Vine, Rylan Clark and Nicky Campbell – had denied being concerned within the scandal as hypothesis grew on social media.

Yesterday, Huw Edwards was publicly named in a press release issued by his spouse Vicky Flind.

She mentioned her husband was affected by critical psychological well being points and is now receiving inpatient hospital care “the place he’ll keep for the foreseeable future”.

Ms Flind mentioned the presenter intends to reply to the allegations as soon as he’s nicely sufficient to take action, including: “I do know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the latest media hypothesis.”

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Her assertion got here shortly after the Metropolitan Police revealed there was “no data to point {that a} felony offence has been dedicated”.

Scotland Yard said it will be taking no further action, and an inner BBC investigation can now resume.

In a observe despatched to BBC employees, director-general Tim Davie mentioned it was a “troublesome time for a lot of” – and the company’s instant concern “is our obligation of care to all concerned”.

Turning to Vicky Flind’s assertion, he added: “It’s a reminder that the previous couple of days have seen private lives performed out in public. On the coronary heart of this are individuals and their households.”

However Mr Davie pressured that it will be significant for the BBC to proceed its investigation into the allegations which were made.

“This stays a really advanced set of circumstances,” he wrote. “As we’ve completed all through, our intention have to be to navigate by means of this with care and consideration, in step with the BBC values.”

Learn extra:
Who is Huw Edwards? Newsreader named at centre of scandal
‘An awful and shocking episode’: Huw Edwards’ friends and colleagues react

Newspaper below scrutiny

The Solar, which initially printed the claims about Edwards final Friday, has said it has “no plans to publish further allegations”.

In a press release, the media outlet mentioned it’s going to now present BBC investigators with a confidential and redacted file containing “critical and wide-ranging” claims, together with from BBC personnel.

Nevertheless, the newspaper is coming below scrutiny for deciding to publish the claims within the first place.

David Yelland, who was editor of The Solar from 1998 to 2003, tweeted: “I want [Huw Edwards] nicely. The Solar inflicted terror on Huw regardless of no proof of any felony offence.

“That is not a BBC disaster, it’s a disaster for the paper. Huw’s privateness should now be revered. Social media additionally wants speedy reform.”

Jon Sopel, former North America editor of BBC Information, referred to as the scandal “an terrible and surprising episode” and mentioned the presenter’s “sophisticated personal life” doesn’t “really feel very personal now”.

And Alastair Campbell, a former Downing Avenue head of communications, mentioned the presenter “is the right goal for individuals who would undermine and certainly want to destroy the BBC”.

However Adam Boulton, a former Sky Information political editor, mentioned The Solar’s reporting “appears to be like like it’s within the respectable public curiosity”.

He instructed Sky’s Sophy Ridge: “These on tv who maintain others to account for his or her behaviour should be ready to be held to account.

“A number of careers ended a good distance wanting criminality as a result of it was felt that they have been bringing the organisation which they represented into disrepute.”

Boulton mentioned most individuals would see it as “pretty reprehensible” for a person in his 60s to pay large amounts of money to a teen for illicit materials, and to cellphone the youth threatening them afterwards – claims which have been levelled in opposition to Edwards.

Ridge identified the younger individual had denied this occurred, however Boulton mentioned they’re “clearly a really susceptible individual” with a “critical drug downside”.

Boulton argued that this made the younger individual’s assertion much less dependable than what their dad and mom had alleged in The Solar.

“I feel that is behaviour which, if I might completed it otherwise you’d completed it, we might be held to account by our employers,” he instructed Ridge.