The BBC said on Friday it has asked former presenter Huw Edwards to pay back the salary he received when he was arrested in November last year for making indecent images of children.
Edwards, one of the most recognisable faces on British television, pleaded guilty to three charges last month and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and a minimum of 12 months in prison.
The BBC board said in a statement on Friday that the 62-year-old former news anchor had “undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute”.
The broadcaster first learned of his arrest in November last year. He was suspended at the time, but left the broadcaster five months later and continued to receive his full salary in the meantime.
The sum was estimated at 200,000 pounds ($255,000) – a cause for particular anger since the BBC is funded by a license fee paid by any British household to watch the channel live on television.
The board’s statement said it had “authorised the executive to seek the return of the salary paid to Mr Edwards since his arrest in November last year.”
It added: “Mr Edwards has admitted his guilt to a heinous crime. If he had been open when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money.”
It did not confirm what legal action would be taken if Edwards refused to pay back the money.
The broadcaster also announced an independent review of workplace culture.
Police said the investigation into Edwards began after a phone seized by officers as part of an unrelated investigation showed the broadcaster was involved in WhatsApp conversations.
Edwards, who was a prominent anchor and BBC presenter on major events such as the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, was suspended in July 2023, when the allegations first surfaced.
He resigned in April after working with the broadcaster for 40 years.
Edwards himself has not commented publicly on the allegations.
The BBC’s brand is based on public trust, but the broadcaster has been hit by scandals in recent years, with some high-profile names exposed as serial sex offenders.
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