Documentary Alleges Huw Edwards Tried to Groom Teen Musician with BBC Tour
A new documentary has leveled serious allegations against former newsreader Huw Edwards, claiming he attempted to groom a teenage musician by offering them a tour of the BBC.
The documentary, aired by Welsh broadcaster S4C’s Y Byd ar Bedwar, alleges that Edwards, 63, made inappropriate advances towards the teenager after seeing them perform in a school uniform at a community concert. According to the claims, Edwards approached the musician, who was 18 at the time, praised their talent, and suggested they connect on Instagram, according to the Mirror.
The accuser claims Edwards called them “babe” and “big boy” in messages, allegedly offering help with their music career, reported by the Daily Mail. The former News at 10 presenter reportedly promised a personal tour of the BBC newsroom, where he introduced the teen to colleagues as a “friend” with musical talent.
The musician told the program:
“People like him believe they can do whatever they want and abuse their power. He was trying to flirt. It was some sort of grooming communication.”
The accuser initially thought Edwards’ comments were “banterous” but later reconsidered. They added that Edwards lost interest and unfollowed them on social media when the flirty responses were not reciprocated:
“I don’t think I gave him what he was looking for.”
These allegations come two months after Edwards avoided jail time for unrelated charges. In September, Edwards received a six-month suspended sentence for admitting three counts of making indecent images of children. The 63-year-old had been sent 41 illegal images by convicted pedophile Alex Williams over WhatsApp.
During his sentencing, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring noted the significant reputational and financial damage Edwards had suffered, calling it the “natural consequence of your behavior which you brought upon yourself.” The BBC condemned Edwards, stating he had “betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.”
Following the case, BBC Director-General Tim Davie acknowledged the reputational harm to the organization, and the corporation has since launched a review into its workplace culture. Grahame Russell, head of Change Associates, will lead the investigation, with findings expected by spring.
BBC Chairman Samir Shah emphasized the importance of addressing workplace issues:
“I cannot emphasize enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or abusive behavior. We must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure, and welcoming workplace for everyone.”