BBC Presenter Huw Edwards Suspended
 

Hasn't been posted yet but this is a crazy out-of-control story.

The Sun reported that an unnamed BBC presenter has been paying for 'intimate' photos of a child then aged 17 and now aged 20. This child, subsequently an adult, had used this money to fund a drug habit:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/22978239...xual-pictures/

The BBC was initially told of this back in May but only suspended the presenter when The Sun went to them with the allegations. The BBC claimed that was the first time they had seen some of the evidence. According to them the initial allegations were not criminal suggesting the accusation of pictures or apparent timeline was not presented to them.

Several poor BBC personalities then had to deny it was them as Twitter decided to go a witch-hunt and name several innocent presenters as the personality. Some of these Twitter users might now be sued.

Then last night a lawyer for the person at the heart of the allegations said it was all nonsense: https://news.sky.com/story/claims-in...eport-12918501

Which must have made The Sun nervous as well.

But now the Met Police have told the BBC to stop the investigation whilst they investigate.

What a mess!

I am guessing there are nerves at the top of the BBC and The Sun right now.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I won't name names, but there seems to be a consensus now on Social Media on who it is.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

There’s certainly been enough thrown out there, including salary details by a Conservative peer on television, that it’s a small subset of people employed at the corporation.

Incredibly messy, although difficult to see how the police can pursue evidence of a crime where the alleged victim - an adult in their own right now - will not co-operate but are instead reliant upon third parties (the mother and stepfather).

Equally difficult for the BBC to protect their employees from potentially spurious allegations while the person genuinely accused is entitled to due process. If someone sufficiently high profile was to suddenly disappear after an unsubstantiated claim it’d open the door to all kinds of allegations from bad faith actors.

If I were an even bigger cynic than I already am I’d be looking for the story the Sun is trying to bury with the timing.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I believe the crime is in the transfer of photographs.

The person being 17 at the time.

If it can be proven the BBC presenter requested and received the photographs from a minor, then he has broken the law.

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Has the law changed since The Sun used to have 16 year old girls on page 3? Or didn't the law apply to that?

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the minimum age was raised to 18 in 2003 after the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act.

Sam Fox was indeed just 16 when she was first on Page 3.

https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk...oungest-model/

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Yes the law did change, that's why they stopped.

Pierre is right. If the person was 17 then a crime has been committed and the presenter's career is over and the BBC will face a lot of questions on what they knew when.

If they were 18 then the pictures were sent then The Sun might be in some legal trouble.

I think it all hinges on that.

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I dont participate in [anti] Social Media, so I have no idea.

Exactly why I dispise twatter (and any replacements or equivelents) - yet another mindless witch hunt. I hope all of them get sued to hell.

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:16 ----------

The law changed, they can have as much sex as they want, just not take pictures ... :dozey:

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Doesn't suprise me that the BBC were trying to cover this up and not let it out.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

100% if this can be proven he’d be bang to rights.

I’m just sceptical of the police reaching the threshold to pursue seizing equipment for digital/banking forensics if the alleged victim is uncooperative. Plus having to prove that the accused knew, or had reasonable grounds to believe, the victim was 17.

Hypothetically a 17 year old with a drug habit pretends to be 18. Makes some cash out a dirty old man. Nobody goes down for that.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

As sure as a French Air Traffic Controller strike in the first week of the summer holidays...

Now more are coming out, another young person that met him on a dating app, is now accusing him of being threatening. whatever that means.

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He denies everything. His spokesperson said he is innocent.

No quotes or links are provided.

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He is certainly screwed now

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let the pile on .......commence.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

A second alleged victim is now involved, and this time BBC News itself seems to be sitting on some pretty damning evidence, in the form of abusive social media messages from the presenter to said second alleged victim.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66165766

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

He’s not going to survive now, but I’ve no real sympathy for a snowflake who threatens to out a celebrity then acts surprised they aren’t happy about it.

Tip of the iceberg I suspect. The tabloid chequebooks will be out. Might as well have a sweep on how many by the weekend.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

We are talking about two different people.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

There is a crime in making the image and in possessing it. Possibly there’s a crime of incitement as well. I don’t know, IANAL.

One interesting point is that its sexualisation in the image that makes it a crime - it is possible for a photo to be sexualised, and therefore illegal, even if a child isn’t naked, and it is also possible for the photo to be legal even if the child is (so for example a photo of your own pre-school children streaking across the beach isn’t actually against the law). Almost certainly besides the point in this case though.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

You can’t get much further a fall from grace. Given the public perception of the alleged man in recent times to this….regardless of how this turns out I can’t see him coming back from this.

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Doing a media boy , been told that he has been named by a number of outlet's all giving the same name. Five people across the world , said it is on there local news outlet . ( Ok I asked them if they had read anything) b:shocked: but I will not say whom. If you really try ,VPN will did it up for you ;) no idea if it's true :erm:

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Wise not to mention a name until it is announced on MSM.

There may be legal implications.

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This story is a real bummer!

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There absolutely are legal implications, and anyone putting a name in print whilst not possessing the evidence they would be asked to produce when being sued for libel is a 24 carat moron.

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Just wondering if any of these people are being paid for their stories, and why go through the Currant Bun, rather the proper channels.

Even if this is person is innocent they're ruined, which seems wrong.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Cliff Richard survived the BBC reporting live from a helicopter above his house while it was being raided. An innocent person wrongly accused can definitely survive if they’re famous and well resourced enough to rebuild their reputation. It’s powerless people getting hounded out of their council house because Mad Sharon over the road has a massive gob and a tiny brain that suffer in cases like this.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I think, everybody is taking the piss about this story. Sky just posted
this helpful guide for you to take a pick:

https://news.sky.com/story/bbc-revea...rners-12918911

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I wonder why the Sun hasn’t named the BBC personality?

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In fairness it’s BBC Annual Report day. A cut and paste story off the shelf every year. Like rail fares going up on 2nd January. Or French air traffic controllers going on strike in the school holidays.

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I hope those who name the wrong person get sued to bankruptcy

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I suppose a clue might be in unexplained personnel changes on BBC programmes.
I've spotted one change, but it might be the wrong person. Which highlights a greater reason for revealing the correct person.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

In the school summer holidays plenty of people who usually go to work don’t. The BBC has a duty of care to all of it’s employees including the accused. The problem is people jumping to the wrong conclusions, or indeed trying to make conclusions at all.

And to be fair anyone who wants to know who is being touted they can take to any social media platform. At this point almost nobody is being routinely falsely accused.

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Very true. But please read between the lines, the Mirror makes it clearer

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It would be illegal - last year, the Supreme Court established that when someone is under investigation by a law enforcement agency they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Also

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b2373043.html

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Mr Blobby hasn't been on for a while.....:erm:

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Or Gordon the Gopher…

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Are they under investigation? They weren't before now.

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Haha yes, I see it now.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

He suffered for years with a guy's hand up his backside...

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

From the link

Also

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...nded-presenter

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I'm not talking about a regular appearance, which suddenly stopped. Don't want to give out more details, in case somebody works out the missing appearance and points out details about it.
Those staff involved in any programme that has a last minute change, will possibly know the identity.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Everyone knows the identity by now.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

BBC confirmed that the suspension took place 6-th of July.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Basically anybody who was due to make a live appearance, and now doesn't or didn't, is a possible. If that ends up be a list of more than one person, that is unfair on the others who aren't involved. If that is a list of just one person, then difficult to argue against it being that person. Only time can tell, as it is currently too short a time to have a complete list at the moment.

---------- Post added at 19:24 ---------- Previous post was at 19:23 ----------

I know. Still could be that any appearance, now cancelled, that was due in the near future.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Alleged he broke lockdown to meet the minor…………game over.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

The claim is broke lockdown to meet a 23-year-old

There are also reports The Sun is distancing itself from the accusation the original person has under 18 when they sent pictures. They might in a bit of legal trouble if that turns out to be the case, not sure how much not naming them helps if he person is subsequently outed online.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Up to 3 now.

Anyone want to go for double figures?

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Any evidence of before 18, is going to rely on the parents. Difficult to conclusively prove either way. Doesn't mean it isn't true.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Well, they need to prove it. Either they have evidence of pictures taken before they turned 18 or they don't. You can't print in a newspaper an allegation someone broke the law and then say 'well, it COULD be true'.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I didn’t read The Sun article at the time, but did it ever go beyond “sleazy messages were exchanged” at 17.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

This is how they worded it: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/22978239...xual-pictures/

Maybe they have leeway by saying the money went in whilst they were 17 but no actual pictures were taken but that would be stretching it.

But I would have thought that's the reason they could run the story? Without that angle all you have is two consenting adults exchanging such messages for payments. Sleazy but not illegal.

The lockdown thing might save them, I don't really know.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

IIRC the mother said she had seen the picture on his phone, which would suggest she doesn't have them to show. Newspapers won't have access to the bank and phone records to show the date when it started.

Simply relying on somebody's word is done all the time.
Can really be no doubt that there is something to investigate. It's not a case of nothing going on.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

4 now (the one that received creepy kisses)

I will go for double figures. In another website, several girls claimed that they talked to him

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Nope.

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Agree that wording is dodgier ground for the Sun to be on, although they can also hide behind the mother claiming that. They also know what they are doing with persistent references to ‘child’, but will hide behind not wanting to identify the gender.

The more come forward does the presenter really want to go to court to argue the toss that they’re not a criminal but are only morally repugnant? Probably not. I guess it could depend if their name is officially outed.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Not everybody as l have not got a clue who it is as l wil just wait until its announced legally.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Fair enough anyone who wants to know could find out if they really wanted to since it’s being carried on media abroad. It’s been well known on social media who can provide the jigsaw pieces that brings it down to a suspect of one who isn’t on air, isn’t threatening litigation or isn’t live tweeting their holiday.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

The person I have in mind as a possible, has also been identified by others on the same basis. They missed an appearance, with other appearances due soon. If the person doesn't appear, that might be seen as a clincher for the identity. Might still be wrong person, but either way it would put further pressure on the actual person to come forward.
Seems silly for the person to deny the inevitable.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Irrelevant (to this thread) post moved to own thread

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33712018

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Well I cant be bothered to start searching.

I'm puzzled why would anyone pay £35,000 for "explicit" photos.
That seems an awfully large amount (unless blackmail was involved I suppose).
I've also never seen it mentioned if the 17 year old was male or female, just a "young person".

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

It's been mooted the "young person" had an "OnlyFans" account.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

For a short while the on-line version of the Sun referred to a youth before going back to a teen.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

It is Huw Edwards

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-66159469

https://news.sky.com/story/huw-edwar...eport-12917735

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

No way!

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

The police have also confirmed no criminal offence took place. Probably meaning he did not solicit images of the man whilst he was under-18

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

“On the basis of the information available”.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Maybe the vultures will leave him alone.
He's resigned from the job and in hospital for mental health treatment

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

he?

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

That's the way decisions are made.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

For some reason I thought it was a he.

---------- Post added at 18:18 ---------- Previous post was at 18:16 ----------

I think The Sun are in trouble here.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

At 6pm, the BBC said he had resigned but shortly afterwards clarified that he had not quit.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Nobody disputes that’s how law enforcement works.

I’m only noting what they actually said.

Nobody would tell rape victims they weren’t raped because it didn’t reach the evidence threshold to secure a conviction, for example.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

That's why he was missing from last Thursday's(6th July) edition of the One Show on BBC. He was due to present broadcasts of the Prom concerts.

The Police say they're done an assessment, NOT an investigation.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I dunno myself but some people thought


https://www.worldcupupdates.org/who-...s-allegations/

See the end of the webpage. Is it fake news. Multiple sources.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Yep, thats what the site says ;


---------- Post added at 18:32 ---------- Previous post was at 18:29 ----------

They could if there was no evidence at all, which is what was said here.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Yes I was only adding that qualification to “no criminal offence took place”. Which is different from “no evidence that a crime has took place”. There’s a material difference which is why the police use the second but not the first.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Also to be clear the accusation isn't coming from the alleged victim either.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I was thinking along those lines, because of the many people defending the person and their actions.


Why? They reported what the mother said she had seen. Has there been an actual full blown investigation?
The BBC wouldn't have known anything, the alleged complainant would be unlikely to tell the truth, and the family would be just glad that he had been stopped, which is what they were after.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

It's all a bit sad really. Not much more I can add.

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I imagine it is the press and this coming out that has sent him into hospital. End of the day all he has done is something countless others do every day

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Pay attention: The BBC always stated:

The Sun newspaper has reported that the unnamed presenter paid a young person for explicit photos beginning when they were 17

This threw me out, I saw it several times, so it was not grammar mistake (Huw ain't 17)

So .....?

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Don't the police normally check somebody's computers etc, when this sort of accusation had been made? They look for other examples of similar alleged crimes. No reports of that having been done, although any evidence will have long gone.
If his actions had been aimed at those older than say, 30, there might not be much need to investigate. As his actions have been aimed at those near or at teenage, then there is the possibility of having strayed into illegality, even if unknowingly.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Yes, I would say so.


All that talking about you and speculation whilst you can't be named.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Being caught out will have that affect. People had figured it out, and it would've been confirmed when he didn't present the Proms. Hiding away helps.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

It obviously hasn't helped if he's in hospital.

This isn't panning out as certain media outlets wanted it to.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Police need a warrant to seize someone’s computer, and to get a warrant they need enough evidence from other sources to convince a magistrate of their reasonable suspicion.

Having an interest in legal teenagers is not grounds for suspicion and certainly not enough for the police to be authorised to go on a fishing expedition. You might, for example, have a neighbour who you know has an interest in the ‘teen’ section of your favourite -ahem- adult tube site …. the very category that is well known to attract uploads of content featuring teenagers who are not yet 18. However if you went to the police and told them about your neighbour, there is no way on earth that would justify them raiding his computers looking for videos of girls who are under 18.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

One of the allegations is that he communicated with another 17-year-old.
So when haven't the police raided computers, when this sort of accusation has been made?
Eg there was a case where a teacher was accused of using certain terms(eg child XXX) in a search on school computers. The police raided his computer, but not much was found because he had been tipped off about the impending raid. Not much in the way of evidence required there.
As I've pointed out, the BBC wouldn't know anything, the victim wouldn't want to say anything, especially as it would've also been a crime for him to provide any pictures, and the family are just glad that he has been stopped.
Eg There was a publicised case, where a public figure reported that he had been mugged, The police found the culprit and recovered the stolen items. Slam dunk for a conviction you would think, except the "victim" refused to identify the person and was labelled as being an unreliable witness by the CPS. So the case was conveniently dropped and the embarrassing details withheld.


The computers and phones records will now NOT be examined. Convenient or what? If somebody is dealing in "jail bait" territory, then it's quite possible, they went under age. They may not have, by being extra careful or by LUCK, but the likelihood is still there.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

???? What, solicit candid photographs from young people?

---------- Post added at 20:23 ---------- Previous post was at 20:19 ----------

No doubt Phil Schofield was right on the blower to him…..”play the mental health card Huw, they’ll call you brave, instead of a perv”

He’ll probably come as gay, and then use the phrase “Ill advised but not illegal”

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Well, he must have been planning to use the "mental health card" well in advance, as two years ago he stated he had been suffering from crippling depression for over twenty years…

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...ith-depression

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I've been wondering how it panned out. Did Huw proposition the person and offer them money to take the photos or did the person offer the photos for sale and Huw just happened to be the buyer?

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I could go to the police tomorrow and allege that you communicated suggestively with a 12 year old girl. But as I have no actual evidence of that, the police would conclude within a very few days - as they have done here - that there is no case to answer. Your allegation has to have credible evidence attached to it. The parents’ claims *might* have had such credibility, had they not been in the pay of a tabloid newspaper and had the alleged victim not flatly contradicted them within 24 hours.

No evidence, no justification for intrusive searches. A very valuable restriction on the State’s power to interfere in the lives of private individuals.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Well, my clinical advice would be, don’t endanger you mental health by perving over an adolescent, paying them tens of thousands of pounds for sordid photos and then getting caught.

Maybe, being a very high profile BBC presenter, known to millions, he might have thought that through.

And even if he did/does suffer from depression, playing the mental health card at this time will no doubt take the heat off.

Nasty press and public must not all pile on the poor fragile guy

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

So who as a public figure that had been caught out, wouldn't be depressed? Not exactly going to be in cheerful mood, are they?


The news coverage is utterly pathetic.

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You need to do some research into depression. It does not mean ‘being very sad’.


Agreed.

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Think we can all agree on that. Meanwhile Ukraine, climate change, the economy, take a back seat. Pathetic Little England.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

So if somebody said that X had searched for "child XXX", they wouldn't be raided? I could give the reported details of the case I mentioned, but that would bring up another whole can of worms and issue in hand would get sidetracked.
The mother reported to the police the existence of a picture. That should've been evidence enough to INVESTIGATE. Who else would have access to the necessary records? The BBC won't, yet they're the ones expected to do any investigating. So of course, the BBC will announce, "no evidence found"/


Cover up, all around.

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

Being caught doing what? Paying a teenager for some nudes?

No criminal proceedings and until there are he is guilty of nothing more than getting his rocks off. You never watched Porn?

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But "being very sad" IS classed as being depressed. Doctors hand out anti-depressants for it.

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Only Fans exists. Cam sites exist it is out there. We do not know the age

I see a lot of judgemental people on this thread. Anyone would think no one here uses porn ever. Well I do not believe it

As I have said. Until there is a crime then I am not gonna judge him harshly

Re: BBC Presenter Suspended
 

I'm diagnosed (properly diagnosed that is) with F33.2 (Recurrent depressive disorder, current episode severe without psychotic symptoms) with Anhedonia.

Am I sad or very sad, no I just don't feel anything. Some Anhedonics could either give in or give up, some go to lengths to try and feel something.

It wouldn't matter if I won the lottery tomorrow, my mood would not change. So no it's not about being 'sad'.