BBC pulls Doctor Who episode featuring Huw Edwards following disgraced newsreader's guilty plea

Titled Fear Her, Edwards appeared alongside Tennant and Billie Piper's Rose as viewers were transported in time to the 2012 London Olympics.

The storyline followed the Doctor and Rose as they investigated the mystery behind a young girl's intergalactic superpowers that were shielded from public knowledge by her mother.

GB News has contacted the BBC for comment but the corporation is yet to address the decision publicly, reports TV Zone.

The removal of the episode from iPlayer comes days after Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

Edwards was suspended by the corporation in July last year after being named as the subject in a report by The Sun that alleged he paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit images.

The Met Police found no criminal wrongdoing in relation to that case but in November, Edwards was arrested following a separate investigation.

In April 2024, Edwards resigned on "medical" grounds and it wasn't until he pleaded guilty this week that it was uncovered the BBC knew about his arrest in November.

Question marks have been raised about the corporation's decision to continue paying Edwards his hefty pay packet after learning of the arrest - something director-general Tim Davie defended following the guilty verdict.

The BBC have removed Doctor Who episode "Fear Her" from iPlayer, as it has a cameo by Huw Edwards.https://t.co/GCOjWxtgos

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) August 2, 2024

Speaking to BBC News on Thursday, Davie said the corporation had taken "difficult decisions in a fair and judicious manner" and explained: "We knew it was serious, we knew no specifics, apart from the category of the potential offences."

BBC bosses were not aware of the ages of the children in the images which were revealed to be as young as seven in some of the material.

Edwards has faced calls to return his BBC pay packet while questions have been raised about whether he can receive his pension.

Davie told BBC News it was "very difficult to claw back, nigh on impossible", adding: "These are unfortunately the specifics of how it works.

"When it comes to pay, again, legally challenging, but we’ll look at all options."

A BBC spokesperson released a statement earlier this week after Edwards' guilty plea, stating: "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.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Krishnan Guru-Murthy makes Amanda Abbington revelation as he says he alerted BBC Strictly bosses about concerns
  
• Billy Bragg, 66, sparks fury as he draws 'sick' comparison between Imane Khelif row and Southport stabbings
  
• Caitlyn Jenner wades into Imane Khelif row as former Olympian makes stance clear on Paris boxing controversy
  

"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.

"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. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.

"During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions. We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected."