THE BBC was “blindsided” after Huw Edwards was charged with making 37 indecent images of children.
The veteran broadcaster, 62, faces three charges over alleged activity between December 2020 and April 2022.
The father-of-five, who has been separated from his wife Vicky Flind for months, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
He is now accused of having six category A images, 12 category B pictures and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp.
The offences are contrary to sections 1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.
If found guilty, he could receive a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
However, a BBC insider revealed the Beeb only found out about the charges just hours before they were made public, according to The Times.
Staff at the corporation were said to be left stunned by the development and claimed senior management must have been unaware.
A senior source told The Times: “The BBC was informed by the Met Police when a call came through [on Monday].
“It will be quite a moment when he appears in Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday morning.
“The court artists will be there to capture the moment when the man who announced the death of the Queen to the nation is up before Mr or Mrs magistrate.”
He is also kept his arrest “completely secret” from his friends for eight months, MailOnline reported.
One former BBC colleague and friend told the newspaper: “Huw kept his arrest completely secret.
“It turns out he was arrested four months later and nobody knew. I had no idea until he was charged.”
Another said: “It’s a mess – and tragic for all concerned.”
Edwards was one of the BBC’s most prominent and highest-paid news anchors before he left the corporation earlier this year.
During his career, he fronted BBC’s News At Ten for 20 years and anchored coverage of major national events.
These included announcing Queen Elizabeth II’s death on the BBC and presenting coverage of her funeral.
He also helmed the BBC’s broadcast of the King’s coronation last year.
Throughout the years he presented the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018 and the funeral of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 2021.
The BBC News At Ten presenter was also the broadcaster’s voice at Trooping the Colour and the Festival of Remembrance.
He took over election coverage from the long-serving David Dimbleby in 2019.
Before he stepped down, he was the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24.
His duties included 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials and other television programming, according to the BBC’s latest annual report.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Huw Edwards, 62, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a police investigation.
“The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.
“Edwards was arrested on November 8, 2023. He was charged on June 26 following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 31.
“Media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an active case.
“Nothing should be published, including on social media, which could prejudice future court proceedings.”
