BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest

Huw Edwards arrives at court in London

BBC reporter Sophie Raworth insisted she and her colleagues found out about Huw Edwards' arrest and charges on Monday when the rest of the world was informed.

Edwards admitted three charges of "making" indecent photographs of children in court today after he was sent 41 illegal images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams.

Westminster Magistrates' Court was told seven of the images shared with the 62-year-old veteran broadcaster by Williams were of the most serious type.

One image sent in August 2021 was a category A film featuring a young boy, with Williams telling Edwards he was "quite young looking" and had more illegal images.

Williams asked the broadcaster on February 2, 2021 whether what he was sending was "too young" to which Edwards told him not to send any underage images.

Sophie Raworth addressed Huw Edwards' guilty plea (Image: BBC)

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The indecent images sent to Edwards included seven category A, 12 category B, and 22 category C.

The BBC issued a statement this afternoon confirming it was aware of Edwards' arrest in November 2023. However, the corporation said he was "was no longer an employee of the BBC" when he was charged.

The statement read: "The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.

Huw Edwards arriving at court today (Image: Getty)

"The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year."

It added: "In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.

"At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.

"Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court. If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him."

Huw plead guilty to charges of making indecent pictures of children (Image: Getty)

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During tonight's BBC News at Six, Raworth confirmed when she discovered the news of Edwards' arrest.

She stated: "We here at BBC News are editorially independent when reporting on the corporation and we only learnt about his arrest and the charges when the rest of the media did on Monday."

Speaking to a media editor Katie Razzall on the programme, Raworth added: "Well that leaves a lot of questions for the BBC."

Razzall said: "Well it really does, I think serious questions for the BBC and the Director General. Key amongst them is that decision not to sack Huw Edwards in November once the BBC knew he had been arrested."

BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest

BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest

BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest

BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest

BBC News' Sophie Raworth sets record straight on learning about Huw Edwards' arrest