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Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images
Published 18:08 12 Jul 2023 BST
Updated 19:03 12 Jul 2023 BST
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The star is 'suffering from serious mental health issue' and is receiving hospital care
Huw Edwards' wife has named him as the BBC presenter facing allegations that he paid a young person for sexually explicit images.
In a statement issued on his behalf on Wednesday, Vicky Flind, said her husband was "suffering from serious mental health issues" and is now "receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future," the BBC reported.
Vicky said in her statement that it had been "five extremely difficult days for our family" since The Sun newspaper reported on Saturday that a high-profile BBC presenter had paid a teenager £35,000 for explicit images. The youngster, now in his 20s, has since denied the story, but his family are sticking by it.
The BBC suspended the presenter on Sunday, some seven weeks after the youngster's family approached the broadcaster on May 17. The Met was notified of the situation but determined Wednesday that the presenter did not have a criminal case to answer.
Vicky said she issued a statement, "primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children."
Her statement continued: "Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future.
"Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published."
Vicky said, "to be clear" Huw was only told of the allegations against him last Thursday.
"In the circumstances and given Huw's condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.
"I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end."
