BBC boss Tim Davie addresses ‘challenging few days’ as Huw Edwards named as suspended presenter

In his note, Davie said that he wanted to write to staff “following this evening’s statements from the family of Huw Edwards and the police”.

He added: “Many of you will have read the words of Vicky Flind, Huw’s wife.

“It is a reminder that the last few days have seen personal lives played out in public.

“At the heart of this are people and their families.

“This will no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days.

“I want to reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.

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“Also this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police confirmed they would be taking no further action following an assessment of information provided to them.”

Davie continued: “As you know, we were asked to pause our fact finding investigations until that assessment had been concluded.

“It is important we now continue with this work. I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process.

“This remains a very complex set of circumstances. As we have done throughout, our aim must be to navigate through this with care and consideration, in line with the BBC values.”

Edwards, 61, was named as the presenter at the centre of several allegations last night.

Flind, who previously worked alongside her husband at the BBC, released a statement confirming Edwards was in the hospital with “serious mental health issues”.

The statement read: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.

“I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

"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."

Edwards was first told about the allegations last Thursday, Flind added.

She also appealed for privacy on behalf of their family.

Eyes focused on the BBC last week after an then-unnamed star was accused of paying £35,000 for sexually explicit images of a youth over a three-year period.

The parents of the recipient also claimed the young person was just 17 when the relationship started.

However, a lawyer for the young person appeared to refute the allegations on Monday.

They insisted nothing illegal had happened, adding the parents’ claims were “rubbish”.

Several other allegations have been levied against Edwards, including breaking coronavirus restrictions and sending inappropriate messages to BBC employees.

The Metropolitan Police also issued a statement last night which confirmed Scotland Yard found “no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed”.

The BBC will now resume its “fact-finding investigations” after the Metropolitan Police requested the broadcaster put its enquiry on hold while officers looked into the allegations.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved."