The BBC Board has requested Huw Edwards to repay the wage he earned from when he was arrested final November, amounting to round £200,000 ($254,000), whereas saying he has “introduced us into disrepute.”
Issuing an announcement up to now couple of minutes, the board, which is chaired by Samir Shah, mentioned: “Mr Edwards pleaded responsible to an appalling crime. Had he been up entrance when requested by the BBC about his arrest, we’d by no means have continued to pay him public cash. He has clearly undermined belief within the BBC and introduced us into disrepute.”
The BBC was pressured to disclose lately {that a} small variety of senior leaders together with Director Basic Tim Davie had been conscious Edwards was arrested final November over three counts of creating indecent photographs of kids. He was charged a number of months later and pled responsible final week. Davie subsequently mentioned the BBC was not hiding proof about him however that it had chosen to not fireplace the previous newsreader when it was informed about his arrest in November. “We knew it was severe, we knew no specifics, aside from the class of the potential offenses,” mentioned Davie.
At present, the board mentioned it has reviewed data offered by Davie’s staff during the last week and “helps the choices taken by the Director Basic and his staff throughout this era.”
“These selections had been based mostly on bearing in mind a variety of things together with: the BBC’s authorized and contractual obligations; the information the BBC had on the time; responsibility of care considerations; and, due regard for the accountability that the BBC has for public cash,” it added.
The board famous that “the Govt has agreed to have a look at classes from this era, together with the BBC’s strategy to the principles surrounding funds when staff are suspended.”
Simply after Edwards pled responsible, the BBC was accused by insiders of double requirements over Edwards’ wage after it emerged that the British broadcaster’s freelance presenters should not paid if suspended and below police investigation. Edwards earned his greatest pay packet in 5 years in 2024, the overwhelming majority of which he was not working following allegations revealed in The Solar.
Spotlighting energy imbalances
The Board went on to say that the occasions surrounding Edwards have “additionally put a highlight on the query of energy imbalances within the office.” “We stay involved in regards to the potential for inappropriate office behaviour, significantly in artistic and editorial environments,” it added. “While challenges associated to energy imbalances within the office are a problem for a number of employers, the BBC should maintain itself to the best requirements.”
For the reason that Edwards plea, BBC Information has reported that Edwards despatched suggestive messages to an worker, together with an image of his lodge suite in Windsor on the time of Prince Philip’s funeral. A “whistleblower” informed BBC Information that they gave proof to the interior inquiry however the findings had been “swept below the carpet.”
Edwards pled responsible to a few fees of creating indecent photographs of kids, for making class A, class B and class C photographs. Of the severn class A, that are essentially the most severe, two had been “shifting photographs” of a younger youngster, presumably aged between seven and 9.
