Huw Edwards' friend says claims against 'very vulnerable' presenter are 'against everything I know about the man'

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A good friend of Huw Edwards has stated he initially didn’t imagine the claims concerning the BBC presenter as a result of they have been “towards all the pieces I do know concerning the man”.

Andrew Billen, a function author for The Instances, had lunch with Edwards final Thursday – hours earlier than the newsreader was knowledgeable of the allegations towards him.

Mr Billen advised Sky Information the 61-year-old TV persona was “in excessive spirits” through the meal and was “definitely not a person with an incredible darkish cloud hanging over him”.

Discussing the allegations, he stated: “Personally talking I used to be extremely shocked. It flew towards all the pieces I believed I knew concerning the man.

“I did not imagine it partly as a result of I did not wish to imagine it.”

Sky Information understands earlier than The Solar’s unique story on Edwards was revealed, Newsnight journalists have been wanting into allegations towards the presenter.

These soundings resulted in a narrative broadcast on Wednesday night time, simply after Edwards was named by his wife because the BBC star on the centre of the allegations.

Newsnight included claims from two present colleagues and one former BBC employees member they’d obtained inappropriate messages from the presenter.

‘An HR matter’

Requested concerning the additional allegations, Mr Billen stated: “I might have thought this might properly have been an HR matter, somewhat than a matter for an investigation.”

He added: “I used to be stunned final night time that Newsnight continued to research, particularly given the very fact we all know that he was in hospital… however I perceive it from the BBC’s viewpoint.

“In the event that they zealously go after different public figures who dedicated some form of wrongdoing, to be seen to be unbiased, they need to do the identical with their very own.”

The BBC is at present conducting “fact-finding investigations” into allegations towards the veteran broadcaster.

Edwards’ spouse stated in an announcement her husband was “affected by critical psychological well being points” and was receiving in-patient hospital care.

The Metropolitan Police has stated no legal offence has been dedicated by Edwards and no additional police motion will probably be taken “presently”, permitting an inner BBC investigation to renew.

Learn extra:
Huw Edwards scandal has left BBC battered, bruised and needing to regain public trust
What friends and colleagues have said about Huw Edwards
The Sun says it has dossier of ‘serious’ claims but has ‘no plans’ to publish
Was The Sun right to publish allegations about BBC presenter?

A means again for presenter?

Requested if there was a means again for Edwards, Mr Billen stated: “I might like to suppose he could be behind that desk once more in just a few weeks or months and presenting the election night time, however I one way or the other doubt it.

“I actually hope he can have a profession in broadcasting past this… And if not that then possibly a job in academia.

“However he is obtained to get previous what’s clearly a extreme psychological breakdown in the meanwhile.”

He added: “You could be a very extremely paid and really well-known and really revered tv presenter and be a susceptible particular person too. I believe now we have discovered that poor Huw could be very susceptible.”

Mr Billen stated he had interviewed Edwards twice and met with him socially for “two lengthy lunches”. He stated at their final lunch he and Edwards had “talked about going for a stroll later this summer time alongside the south Wales coast – which he completely adores”.