Huw Edwards, has been named by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the presenter facing allegations of paying a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos.

Edwards is best known for his work anchoring the BBC’s flagship Ten O’Clock News bulletin for over two decades and for announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth to the nation.

The story first broke on Friday when the Sun newspaper reported a leading BBC presenter had paid a young person 35,000 pounds over three years, beginning when the person was 17.

Edwards and the BBC have since come under fire as the broadcaster struggled to investigate the claim while protecting their privacy and responding publicly to the allegations.

London’s Metropolitan Police concluded their assessment into the allegations, finding no indication of a criminal offence. In response to the wave of speculation, Flind issued a statement to the BBC out of concern for Edward’s mental health and to protect their children.

Flind revealed that Edwards has been treated for severe depression in recent years and that the events of the last few days had greatly worsened matters, necessitating in-patient hospital care.

So basically Huw Edwards has done nothing illegal and as a result of lurid speculation driven by a newspaper that hates the BBC as an institution they've triggered a breakdown in someone they knew has mental health issues. That fucking rag needs to be put down. Permanently.

— Mark Thompson (@MarkReckons) July 12, 2023

Flind expressed hope that the statement would bring an end to media speculation which had had an impact on Edwards’ BBC colleagues, and that Edward’s would be well enough to respond to the stories himself.

The BBC has since announced that they will continue with their internal investigation into the allegations. The age of consent for sex in England is 16, but images of someone under 18 can be considered child pornography.

To sum up: Huw Edwards, the 'BBC Presenter', has been hospitalised with depression. The police have confirmed nothing illegal happened. The BBC is taking no further action. The Sun had been told by the young person's lawyer beforehand claims were unfounded and published anyway.

— Alydia Noble (@alydianoble) July 12, 2023

This case has brought to light some of the complexities around the issue of sexual exploitation, particularly when it involves a public figure.

It has also highlighted the importance of mental health and the consequences of speculation. While the investigation is still ongoing, the BBC will need to consider the implications of this case and the appropriate steps to take.

It is hoped that Edwards will receive the support he needs to recover and that the public will be provided with an explanation of the outcome of the BBC’s investigation.