Huw Edwards asked to return £200,000 of BBC salary

The presenter pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children

The 62-year-old presenter pleaded guilty on 31 July to three counts of making indecent images of children.

BBC Chair Samir Shah wrote in a letter to staff that the corporation believe that Edwards took his salary despite knowing he was going to plead guilt to the offences and that the former news anchor had "behaved in bad faith".

Edwards, who was one of the BBC's most well-known newsreader, was the third-highest earner at the BBC and had been collecting his salary for five months after he was arrested, amounting to £200,000.

The ex-BBC news at 10 anchor was suspended in July 2023 and arrested four months later, although did not resign until April this year.

His former employer has not confirmed if they will undertake legal proceedings if Edwards refues to pay back his salary.

The BBC announced the presenter’s departure in April this year in a short statement.

It read: “Huw Edwards has resigned and left the BBC.

“After 40 years of service, Huw explained that his decision was made on the basis of advice. The BBC has accepted his resignation.”

In the annual publishing of the corporation’s salary report last week, it was revealed Edwards was the third-highest earner between April 2023 to March 2024.

During this period he brought home between £475,000 and £479,999, only being topped by Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball.

Edwards joined the BBC in 1984 and climbed the ranks until in January 2003 when he became the main presenter of BBC One’s Ten O’Clock News.

The award-winning presenter led the BBC’s coverage of the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children which could bring a three-year community order or a suspended sentence.