The BBC “has questions to answer” after veteran broadcaster Huw Edwards plead guilty in court, according to former executive Roger Bolton.
The veteran broadcaster admitted three charges of ‘making’ indecent photographs after he was sent 41 illegal images by convicted paedophile Alex Williams.
Speaking on GB News, Bolton discussed the corporation’s admission that it was aware of Edwards’ arrest five months before his resignation.
He questioned why the broadcaster continued to shell out for the broadcaster’s hefty salary.
Roger Bolton says the BBC 'has questions to answer'
PA / GB NEWS
“The nature of what Huw Edwards has done is so disgusting and dreadful that I think any residual sympathy for him has gone”, he said.
“On the other hand, he is clearly someone with deep mental issues. He has been in a clinic and so on, it’s a tragic situation.
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“The questions are, when did they [the BBC] know? What did they know? We’re talking about two BBCs here.
“There is the BBC at the very highest level, the executives, and BBC News. It’s absolutely clear that BBC News and all its editors did not know until this week that Huw Edwards had been charged.
“Clearly if you watch all the reporting, the BBC has been using this as the top item and they aren’t hiding from this. It’s a terrible thing to say but the BBC has come out better than first feared because of its fearless reporting.
“But we now know the BBC executives were told in confidence that Huw Edwards had been charged. When did they know he was charged? And the big question is, why did they continue to pay him so much money in these circumstances?”
Roger Bolton spoke to Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello on GB News
GB NEWS
Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told seven of the indecent images shared with the broadcaster by Williams were of the most serious type.
The final indecent image was sent in August 2021, a category A film featuring a young boy.
The convicted paedophile told the newsreader the child was “quite young looking” and that he had more images which were illegal.
In a statement, the BBC said: “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.
Huw Edwards arrives at court PA“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.”
The corporation added: “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.
“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.”