BBC staff are concerned an internal report into the conduct of one-time top newsreader Huw Edwards has been quietly filed away after the journalist quit the corporation earlier this week.
The veteran reporter, 62, stood down from the BBC months after it emerged that he was the top corporation figure alleged to have paid a young person £35,000 in exchange for explicit pictures.
Edwards, who had been at the forefront of many significant news events including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, disappeared from screens in July after the allegations were first made and has now quit on mental health grounds.
But staff in New Broadcasting House are concerned the results of an internal investigation into Edwards – paused briefly until police confirmed no criminality had taken place – will never be made public.
The BBC has said since it began the probe that there was no assurance of it ever publishing the report, as it would be mindful of its duty of care towards Edwards, who suffered serious mental health problems after the allegations were reported.
Huw Edwards quit the BBC earlier this week months after he was taken off air amid allegations he had paid a younger person for explicit photos
Some staff at the BBC are reportedly concerned his resignation will lead to an inquiry into his behaviour being quietly shelved
Huw Edwards was last seen on the screen on July 5 last year when he covered King Charles’ visit to Scotland (pictured). Nine months on he has left the BBC on health grounds
Welsh newsreader Edwards, who was paid around £435,000 a year as of the most recent BBC salary disclosures, was reported to have received the outcome of the inquiry and given a chance to respond in November.
Katie Razzall, the BBC’s media editor, said in remarks reported by The Times that she believed the corporation would now consider the matter ‘closed’ with Edwards’ resignation on Monday.
But others within the broadcaster – including some who had made submissions to the internal inquiry – told the newspaper of their surprise to learn Edwards was resigning. They were not given advance notice, the paper reports.
‘People are wondering why there hasn’t been a proper resolution,’ said one individual close to the situation.
‘It’s difficult for them because while they aren’t devastated, it is strange that it won’t be completed in some way.’
Another added: ‘I don’t know if there are lessons to be learnt or not but I do feel that there are a lot of unanswered questions about what the true story is.’
The broadcaster also launched a separate review into how it handles non-editorial complaints after the family of the person who was allegedly in contact with Edwards said their concerns were not taken seriously at an early stage.
That review concluded in February and resulted in a document that set out a plan to ensure that the most serious complaints were fast-tracked by BBC staff.
The scandal erupted last summer when The Sun reported a then-unnamed top BBC star had been paying a young person for explicit photos from the age of 17.
Later versions of the story amended the allegation, only going as far as to say that contact between the two started when the younger person was that age.
The paper had quoted the person’s mother as saying her child, who was 20 as of last summer, had used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit.
A lawyer for the young person has since said the accusations were ‘rubbish’ but the family has stood by the account.
Britain’s most famous newsreader, 62, has been off air since last July after he was accused of paying a young person for sexually explicit images. Pictured on BBC News at 10
Edwards, who was born in Bridgend and brought up in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984. Pictured on the six o’clock news in 1999
Edwards, a married father-of-five, worked at the BBC for four decades. He has spoken openly about his mental health and getting fitter in recent years
On Monday, the mother of the young person told The Sun: ‘In [Edwards] resigning we are worried we won’t get the answers we so desperately need.
‘If Huw has been found to have done something wrong no action can be taken against him.’
The young person has claimed, via their lawyer, to be estranged from their family.
Edwards was named by his wife, Vicky Flind, as the person at the centre of the allegations after social media users began falsely suggesting other stars were the individual in the Sun’s reports.
She confirmed Edwards had been admitted to hospital to receive care for ‘serious mental health issues’.
‘I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children,’ she said.
The BBC said on Monday: ‘Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC.
‘After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.
‘The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don’t believe it appropriate to comment further.’
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
