The resignation comes after Edwards was been named at the centre of a scandal involving paying a young person for sexually explicit images in July 2023 – with his wife saying he was in hospital with “serious mental health issues”.
News of the scandal were originally reported in the Sun newspaper claiming the presenter had paid a young man for explicit photos, beginning when he was 17 years-old.
Both Metropolitan and South Wales Police forces decided against taking any further action saying there was no evidence of any criminal offence having taken place.
Edwards, who was brought up in Llanelli, had worked at the BBC for 40 years. As one of the BBC’s most senior news anchors, he broadcast some of the country’s most high profile events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
He had been suspended since July 2023 while the BBC carried out an internal investigation. Edwards has not commented publicly on the matter.
In a short statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC. After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.
“The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further.”
(Lead image: BBC)
