Dan Walker, Alastair Campbell, and others have reacted to the news that BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards is at the centre of the crisis that is sweeping the network.
On Wednesday, Edwards’s wife, Vicky Flind, said in a statement that her husband was the “BBC broadcaster” who was being accused of paying a young person for sexually explicit photos.
She said that he was getting care in a hospital for “serious mental health problems.”
The accusations, which were first reported by The Sun, have been in the news for days, and presenters like Rylan Clark and Gary Lineker have said that their names have been wrongly linked to the guy in question.
Now, BBC hosts and other top TV stars are talking about how they feel about the senior journalist being named as the presenter who was previously unknown.
Dan Walker said it was ‘an awful situation & will come as a big shock to many.’
‘Huw Edwards is clearly not in a good place at the moment and this must be terrible for his family.
‘I just hope that whoever needs help – on all sides of this – gets the time, space & support they need to heal.’
Alastair Campbell said in a long statement issued on Twitter: ‘Like virtually everyone else, I know absolutely nothing about the events that have led to the statement by Huw Edwards’ wife. But I do know that he is a superb broadcaster. I know too that he has a long history of depression. He and I have spoken about it often, including in an interview for @MensHealthUK shortly before the Queen’s death which he covered so brilliantly.
‘Precisely because he is both well known and well liked he is the perfect target for those who would undermine and indeed would like to destroy the BBC. Nobody should help them.
‘The police having said no action to be taken, whatever he did or did not do is a matter for him and his family, and for the BBC. The obsession with this story has been a further sign of a media that has frankly become weird. But I hope – almost certainly in vain – that Huw and his family are given the privacy they need and to which they are entitled. And the same goes for all others involved in this story.
‘I hope he is getting good care and wish it was available to all who struggle with their mental health.’
BBC Two presenter John Simpson said he feels ‘so sorry for everyone involved in this: for the Edwards family, for the complainants and for Huw himself.’
‘No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now.’
Jon Sopel called it ‘an awful and shocking episode,’ saying ‘there was no ciminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now.’
‘I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well.’
Like virtually everyone else, I know absolutely nothing about the events that have led to the statement by Huw Edwards’ wife. But I do know that he is a superb broadcaster. I know too that he has a long history of depression. He and I have spoken about it often, including in 1/4
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) July 12, 2023
This is an awful situation & will come as a big shock to many.
Huw Edwards is clearly not in a good place at the moment and this must be terrible for his family.
I just hope that whoever needs help – on all sides of this – gets the time, space & support they need to heal.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 12, 2023
I feel so sorry for everyone involved in this: for the Edwards family, for the complainants, and for Huw himself. No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now.
— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) July 12, 2023
This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well. pic.twitter.com/H3rN3bhE1U
— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) July 12, 2023
In a statement released to the PA news agency on Wednesday, Edwards’s wife Flind said: ‘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 wellbeing 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.’
She said that one well enough, he ‘intends to respond to the stories that have been published” and added that her husband was first told 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.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
