Huw Edwards: Paedophile Alex Williams named as man who shared indecent images with presenter

The BBC has said it knew of the veteran broadcaster’s arrest on “suspicion of serious offences” in November, but continued employing him until April, ITV News Sejal Karia reports

Convicted paedophile Alex Williams has been named as the man who sent 41 illegal images to former BBC presenter Huw Edwards.

On Tuesday, Edwards - who was the BBC's highest-paid newsreader before he resigned in April - admitted three charges of making indecent images of children.

The broadcaster was arrested in November but his arrest was not made public until this week, when he was charged.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held urgent talks with the broadcaster’s director general Tim Davie on Thursday.

After the meeting, a statement issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said Nandy is "shocked by Huw Edwards’ abhorrent actions, and her thoughts are with the victims whose lives have been destroyed".

It added: "it is now for the judiciary to decide on an appropriate sentence".

Despite the BBC being operationally and editorially independent, Nandy spoke to the broadcaster "given the incredibly serious nature of this issue, the Secretary of State has spoken to the BBC to raise concerns on a number of points regarding the handling of their own investigations into Huw Edwards".

In particular, she questioned: "What safeguards and processes had been followed in this case, and additionally, what further action may be taken, especially with regard to the handling of licence fee payers’ money.”

The BBC has said it knew of the veteran broadcaster’s arrest on “suspicion of serious offences” in November, but continued employing him until April.

Starmer tells press conference he is 'shocked and appalled' about Huw Edwards' crimes

A BBC source told BBC News that the police told the corporation not to share the information.

The source said: “The information was given in strict confidence by the police and was not to be shared.”

The broadcaster paid Edwards between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24.

This last salary marked a £40,000 pay rise from 2022/23, when he was paid between £435,000 and 439,999.

Mr Davie has since said the corporation will “look at all options” in trying to reclaim pay from Huw Edwards.

Speaking to BBC News about Edwards’ pay and pension, Mr Davie said: “These are, unfortunately, the specifics of how it works, that we can’t claw back pension.

“I think when it comes to pay, again, legally challenging but we’ll look at all options.”

The BBC has said that if Edwards had been charged while he was still an employee it would have sacked him, but at the point of charge he no longer worked for the corporation.

After his guilty plea, a BBC spokesperson said: “In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.

“At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.”

The corporation added: “The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.

“Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court.

“If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.

“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.”

The government is likely to question Davie about whether Edwards' salary was the best use of the money generated by the licence fee, which the public currently pays £169.50 a year for.

The fact Edwards has now admitted three charges of making indecent photographs will also likely raise serious questions of trust in figures at the BBC.

At the time the annual report was published, Davie defended Edwards’ £40,000 pay rise, saying: “We are always trying to be very judicious with the spending of public money and no-one wants to waste a pound.

“But what you’re trying to do, and from the onset of that affair, was trying to act proportionally, fairly and navigate this appropriately.

“I think that’s what we did… but I think we wouldn’t have wasted money if we weren’t doing the right thing.”

Edwards was bailed and will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16.

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