The two‑part series — working title Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards — promises to lift the lid on how one of Britain’s most trusted broadcasters went from announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II to receiving a suspended jail sentence for making indecent images of children.
Edwards, who grew up in Llanelli and has long spoken about his Welsh upbringing, was once one of the BBC’s highest‑paid and most recognisable faces. His downfall sent shockwaves through Wales, where he had been regarded as one of the nation’s most successful broadcasters.
Clunes “unrecognisable” as Edwards in first promo image
A first‑look image released by Channel 5 shows Clunes sitting at a replica of Edwards’ famous BBC News at Ten desk — complete with the cropped grey hair, black tie and trademark pose familiar to millions of viewers.
Producers say the physical transformation is “stunning”, with Clunes reportedly mastering Edwards’ voice, mannerisms and Welsh accent.
The series has been in development for more than a year, with filming taking place in secret across London and Watford.
A drama tracing a double life
Channel 5 says the drama will follow Edwards’ rise from Welsh newsroom to national figurehead, before peeling back the curtain on the hidden life that spiralled out of control behind the scenes.
The programme will chart how concerns about his behaviour first surfaced, how The Sun’s investigation gathered pace, and how the allegations eventually burst into public view. It will show the moment his wife named him as the presenter at the centre of the scandal, his suspension from the BBC, and the months of speculation that followed.
The narrative then moves into the criminal investigation: his arrest, the charges for making indecent images of children, and the eventual guilty plea in July 2024, when he admitted possessing 41 illegal images — including seven of the most serious category. The drama concludes with his six‑month suspended sentence and his exit from public life.
Channel 5 says it has had exclusive access to journalists, investigators and individuals directly involved in the case.
A major departure for Martin Clunes
The role marks a striking shift for Clunes, who is best known to audiences for playing the grumpy but beloved GP in Doc Martin, a cosy teatime favourite that ran for nearly two decades.
Before that, he became a household name as beer‑loving Gary in Men Behaving Badly, one of the defining sitcoms of the 1990s. He has also taken on more serious roles, including DCI Colin Sutton in ITV’s Manhunt, and has fronted a string of nature documentaries and travelogues.
Taking on Edwards — a disgraced figure whose crimes shocked the nation — is a dramatic departure from the warm, often humorous characters Clunes is associated with. Industry insiders say the challenge of portraying a complex, controversial figure was part of the appeal.
Channel 5: “A shocking story of power and betrayal”
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s chief content officer, said the drama would explore the “human cost behind the headlines”.
“This is an important and shocking story — of how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status.”
The broadcaster says the project is its first collaboration between its factual and scripted teams, combining investigative journalism with dramatic reconstruction.
Controversy already brewing
The announcement has sparked backlash online, with some social media users calling the drama “too soon”, “in poor taste” and “unnecessary”.
Others questioned whether Edwards should be given any further airtime following his conviction.
But Channel 5 insists the series is a vital examination of power, trust and accountability — and says it has been made with extensive research and cooperation from those at the centre of the scandal.
