The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, has revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential clawback of £200,000 from disgraced news presenter Huw Edwards. The BBC has requested Edwards to return the salary he earned after being arrested on child abuse image charges last November.
During a House of Lords committee meeting, Davie stated, “We’ve made the formal request and I can’t go into too much detail but discussions are under way. The money should be returned and we made the request.” However, there has been no deadline set for Edwards to comply with the request.
Edwards, once the BBC’s most prominent newsreader, continued to receive his salary for five months after his arrest before being suspended in July 2023. He was arrested four months later and only resigned from the BBC in April.
In July, Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. BBC chair Samir Shah expressed that Edwards had “behaved in bad faith” by accepting his salary despite his actions.
Shah emphasized the importance of public trust in the BBC and stated that Edwards’ actions had damaged the corporation’s reputation. He also addressed concerns about the government’s influence over the broadcaster, advocating for increased independence and accountability to the public.
The BBC’s board composition, financial independence, and funding model were also discussed during the committee meeting. Shah highlighted the need for a future funding model that ensures the BBC’s independence from government interference.
The ongoing discussions surrounding the clawback of Edwards’ salary and the broader issues of governance and independence at the BBC continue to be topics of interest and concern.
