Jon Sopel, who used to work for BBC News, has criticised how the BBC has handled the news that Huw Edwards has been named as the presenter who was suspended because of claims.
On July 12, Vicky Flind made a statement on behalf of her husband, Edwards. In it, she said that Edwards was the broadcaster who, among other things, was said to have paid a young person more than £35,000 for sexually explicit photos.
In her statement, Flind said that her husband was ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’ and ‘is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future’.
Sopel has held several roles in the past with the BBC, including being the broadcaster’s North America Editor, chief political correspondent of BBC News and working as a presenter on the BBC’s Politics Show.
When it was first announced that Edwards, 61, was the previously-unnamed presenter, Sopel, 64, reacted to the news by stressing: ‘And police say no criminal offence committed.’
The co-presenter of the podcast The News Agents then followed up with a tweet that read: ‘This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well.’
Sopel sent out another tweet about Edwards’ name being discovered, this time criticising how the BBC covered the story.
‘Dear @BBCRadio4 @BBCNews, Well done on handling the breaking news about @thehuwedwards and the fact that he’s now being treated in hospital – but to then straight off back of that into a report on him facing fresh allegations of misconduct? That was just terrible,’ he stated.
The writer, who has worked with Edwards for more than 30 years, also talked to LBC.
Addressing Edwards’s mental health, Sopel said: ‘Huw has talked in the past about his depression. The Sun initially made some very serious allegations on the Saturday morning: that he might have solicited photos from someone who was underage and had therefore committed a criminal offence.’
He continued: ‘I would also say that I think that some of my colleagues in BBC News need to look at themselves because I think some of what was said, reported, and led on last night again showed that [Huw] had a slightly complicated personal life. It didn’t show criminality.’
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed no criminal offence has been committed by Mr Edwards, with a BBC spokesperson saying: ‘We have seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. We’re grateful to them for completing this work at speed.
‘The police had previously asked us to pause our fact finding investigations and we will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
Source My Celebrity Life.
