A former BBC executive has voiced serious concerns about an upcoming Channel 5 drama centered on Huw Edwards, the disgraced news presenter. Roger Mosey, who once led BBC TV News, believes the series, starring Martin Clunes, is venturing into dangerously risky territory.
Mosey suggests the drama, currently titled “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards,” could quickly encounter significant legal challenges. He argues that fictionalizing the events surrounding a living individual, particularly one involved in such a sensitive case, opens the door to potential lawsuits.
He contrasted the planned drama with a documentary approach, which he considers a far more legitimate and responsible way to investigate the story. A documentary, he believes, allows for thorough examination without the pitfalls of constructing a narrative with defined “good guys” and “bad guys.”
The series intends to explore the grooming of a 17-year-old by a powerful television figure, and the unraveling of Edwards’ double life. Channel 5 has stated the drama will depict the events leading to his conviction for serious child sexual offences and his subsequent exit from public life.
For two decades, Huw Edwards was a cornerstone of British broadcasting, delivering pivotal news moments to the nation, including the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. His dignified coverage of these events earned him widespread respect and solidified his position as a trusted voice.
However, just months after his lauded coverage of the Queen’s death and King Charles’ coronation, Edwards was suspended following allegations of misconduct. The allegations quickly escalated, leading to charges of possessing and sharing indecent images of children, some depicting a child as young as seven.
Edwards ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and receiving illegal images from a convicted paedophile via WhatsApp. He received a six-month suspended jail sentence and was placed on the sex offenders’ register, marking a devastating fall from grace.
The drama promises a deep dive into the circumstances surrounding Edwards’ actions, but Mosey’s warning highlights the inherent complexities and potential legal ramifications of dramatizing such a sensitive and ongoing case.
