Disgraced TV presenter Huw Edwards has been expelled from the Gorsedd of Bards, one of the highest accolades in Welsh public life, following his guilty plea to three counts of making indecent images of children. The decision was made in a unanimous vote at an Eisteddfod Court meeting, where it was revealed that Edwards had been inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards during the National Eisteddfod in Tregaron in 2022.
The board of trustees activated a relevant section of its constitution to remove Edwards from the Gorsedd, stating that his membership of the Eisteddfod was also terminated. Edwards, 62, now has 21 days to appeal the decision before he is officially removed.
This unprecedented decision has sparked calls for other organizations to review their ties with Edwards. Cardiff University, Bangor University, and the Learned Society of Wales are all reviewing their relationships with the former BBC news presenter in light of his guilty plea.
The National Eisteddfod is a major event in the Welsh calendar, attracting around 160,000 visitors each year. The festival celebrates Welsh language and culture through competitions in music, dance, and literature. The Gorsedd of Bards, responsible for the event’s pageantry, inducts new members each year who have made significant contributions to Welsh life.
No member of the Gorsedd has been expelled before, making Edwards’s removal a historic moment for the organization. The Eisteddfod Court, a separate body from the Gorsedd, governs the festival and has initiated the process to remove Edwards from the prestigious group of bards.
Despite his past role as a prominent BBC presenter, Edwards’s actions have led to his expulsion from the Gorsedd and calls for other institutions to sever ties with him. The fallout from his guilty plea continues to reverberate through Welsh public life as organizations reassess their connections with the disgraced presenter.
