People watching BBC News at 10 seemed to see Clive Myrie “tear up” and look sad during a serious piece about Huw Edwards’ incident.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Edwards, 61, was the suspended broadcaster at the centre of the claims. An unknown BBC star was said to have paid a young person more than £35,000 for sexually explicit photos.
After a number of other claims, the Met police said there is no proof of a crime. Soon after, Edwards’ wife made a statement on his behalf.
In her statement, Vicky Flind said that her husband was ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’ and ‘is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future’.
Dan Walker, Alistair Campbell, and Jon Sopel, among others, have come forward since then to say that they are worried about Edwards.
In the meantime, Edwards’s coworker Sophie Raworth broke the news live on BBC News at Six. Myrie talked about it later.
Myrie began: ‘He is one of the most recognisable faces on British television, anchoring national and international events often from this very chair.
‘But tonight, Huw Edwards, the lead anchor of the BBC’s News at Ten, has been revealed as the man at the centre of allegations over the payment of thousands of pounds to a young person for explicit pictures.’
He went on: ‘After what have been five extremely difficult days, Huw Edwards has not resigned from the BBC.’
As Myrie spoke in a sad way, people could see that he had “tears in his eyes.”
One wrote: ‘I’m sure I saw tears in Clive Myrie’s eyes tonight. It must have been so hard for him.’
Another said: ‘Clive Myrie putting a strong face on #bbcnews I can see the tears in the corner of his eyes. Thinking of the BBC News team tonight.’
‘Poor Clive Myrie reporting with tears in his eyes,’ someone else penned.
Others praised Myrie on his delivery, remaining ‘professional’ despite the ‘tough’ news,
‘He’s been in war zones but tonight must have been the toughest night in the career of Clive Myrie after the events of today at the BBC. As professional as ever though,’ a viewer said.
One wrote: ‘Clearly, Clive Myrie and all at @BBCNews are devastated by the situation with #HuwEdwards. Their delivery was very measured and respectful. It must be tough to deal with when it’s a colleague you’ve worked alongside and respected for many, many years.’
‘Clive Myrie the absolute pro,’ another echoed.
Vicky Flind’s statement in full, on behalf of her husband Huw Edwards
‘In light of the recent reporting regarding the “BBC Presenter” I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.
‘I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
‘Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
‘The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
‘Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
‘In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.
‘I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation.
‘We hope this statement will bring that to an end.’