Former BBC News presenter, Huw Edwards, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, according to a statement from London’s Metropolitan Police on Monday.
The charges pertain to images allegedly distributed via WhatsApp, the police spokesperson stated.
Edwards, who formerly anchored the BBC’s News at Ten, was charged last month, as detailed in the statement. He was initially arrested in November of the previous year.
The police report noted, “The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.”
Edwards was taken into custody on November 8, 2023, and subsequently charged on Wednesday, June 26, following authorization from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Edwards faces allegations involving six category A images—considered the most severe under English law—12 category B pictures, and 19 category C photographs shared on WhatsApp. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
The 62-year-old is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday.
Authorities have cautioned against publishing any information on social media or elsewhere that might affect the fairness of future court proceedings.
Edwards retired from the BBC in late April after a distinguished 40-year career, becoming one of the most familiar faces in British television news.
The BBC’s recent annual report disclosed that Edwards earned between £475,000, $610,000 and £479,999, $616,000, from April 2023 to March 2024, making him the third highest-paid employee at the BBC during that period.
