The BBC has removed an episode of Doctor Who featuring the former newsreader Huw Edwards from the iPlayer streaming service.
The 2006 episode named ‘Fear Her’ included a scene in which David Tennant’s Doctor travelled into the future to the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, and Edwards’ voice is heard commentating on the event.
Edwards, 62, pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday (July 31) to three charges of making indecent photographs of children. He admitted to having 41 illegal images, which were sent to him by the convicted paedophile Alex Williams, seven of which being of the most serious type. Two are reported to show a child aged between about seven and nine.
The BBC said it was “shocked” by the news and clarified that he would have been fired if he had been charged before leaving the corporation three months ago.
“There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected,” it added.
Edwards could now face a jail sentence, and will next appear in court on September 16.
The broadcaster was first suspected by the BBC last July and an investigation was held after allegations emerged of sexual misconduct. Police found no evidence of criminal conduct on those allegations.
In April, Edwards resigned from the BBC following “medical advice”. After the initial reports last July, his wife revealed he had been hospitalised with “serious mental health issues”, and his resignation was at the time said to be based on his doctors’ suggestions.
News of Edwards’ current charges emerged earlier this week (July 29).
Edwards was reportedly the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, having covered some of the biggest global news stories of the last three decades. Some of these events included the inauguration of Barack Obama, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middeton, and the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Between 1994 and 2003, Edwards presented the BBC Six O’Clock News, which was at the time the most-watched news programme in the United Kingdom. According to the BBC, he received between £435,000 and £439,000 in the year 2022/23.
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