BBC staff are concerned that a recent report about Huw Edwards has been “swept under the carpet” after the former newsreader resigned earlier this week.
The former presenter had been off air since last July, following reports which claimed he paid a young person £35,000 for sexually explicit images.
Edwards, 62, who was the BBC's most high-profile news anchor, resigned from the corporation on “medical advice” on Monday.
However, staff at the broadcaster are now worried that the results of an internal investigation into the 62-year-old will never be published.
BBC staff are concerned that a recent report about Huw Edwards has been 'swept under the carpet' since his registration
PA
Tim Davie, back in July, urged people to come forward with information to help the BBC “understand anything that is out there”, after admitting that there were “dangerous imbalances of power” in industry television.
Whilst the BBC never promised to publish the findings of the report, there has been disappointment among insiders at the corporation who believe that withholding the findings would not be used to prevent similar situations from arising.
The BBC said that it made no assurances to make the results public out of a duty of care to Edwards - who suffered serious mental health problems after the allegations were reported.
Edwards, who was often chosen to cover major national events including the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, was reported to have received the outcome of the report in November and given a chance to respond.
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Katie Razzall, the BBC's media editor, said that she thinks that the broadcaster would now consider the whole situation with Edwards “parked”.
She told The Times: “My sense is that now he is no longer an employee, the review falls away and that matter is closed. It means some form of closure for the BBC, which can now proceed with its replacement plans.”
However, many employees are disappointed with the prospect that the findings will never be brought to light.
An insider told the publication: “People are wondering why there hasn’t been a proper resolution. It’s difficult for them because while they aren’t devastated, it is strange that it won’t be completed in some way. The BBC is known for being transparent but on this occasion it seems to be saying ‘OK, well that was that!’ and just looking to move on.”
The BBC didn't name Edwards after the allegations came to light PAAnother 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.”
In February, the BBC issued the findings of a separate review it commissioned last year into the effectiveness of its non-editorial complaints policies and processes.
In the 23-page review, the broadcaster apologised for its “shortcomings”.
“Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC,” a statement said on Monday.
"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."
