Huw Edwards was subject to a disciplinary process before he resigned from the BBC, the broadcaster has revealed.
The former BBC News presenter resigned “without notice or financial settlement” during a confidential disciplinary process, the corporation said.
Since Edwards, 62, admitted possessing indecent images of children on Wednesday, the BBC has faced questions about why he continued to be employed and was paid more than £200,000 following his arrest.
A BBC spokesman said: “In the case of Huw Edwards, we considered carefully all issues raised with us as part of a fact-finding disciplinary investigation and that informed a confidential disciplinary process.
“During this period he chose to resign and did so with immediate effect –without notice or financial settlement.
“We fully appreciate the complexities and confidentiality of this work can be frustrating for those who have come forward and shared their experiences, but we are extremely grateful to everyone who did so and will always listen with great care to anyone who wants to raise concerns with us.”
It comes after The Telegraph revealed whistleblowers expressed disappointment that an internal inquiry into Edwards had not been made public.
One anonymous insider said they told the BBC’s internal inquiry that they had received flirtatious messages from Edwards, which they found inappropriate, and had never “heard anything of substance about how the investigation went”.
Another whistleblower said they had raised concerns about Edwards being “pushy” in trying to arrange a meeting and inviting them to share a hotel suite while covering Prince Philip’s funeral. This insider told the BBC that they felt “things have been swept under the carpet”.
Before Edwards resigned, he was the broadcaster’s highest-paid newsreader, earning between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24, according to the BBC’s latest annual report.
Not a good use of taxpayers’ money
On Friday, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, urged the disgraced newsreader to “return his salary” and asked the BBC to look into whether it can recoup an estimated £200,000, which Edwards earned during the period from his arrest until his resignation.
Ms Nandy said that she has asked to see the employment law advice given to the BBC, and called on Tim Davie, the corporation’s director-general, to address “outstanding issues” and report back to her next week.
The minister also told Sky News: “I think he ought to return his salary. I think having been arrested on such serious charges all the way back in November, to continue to receive that salary all the way through until he resigned is wrong and it’s not a good use of taxpayers’ money.
“I think most people in the country will agree with that but whether he does that or not is up to him.” She added: “I’ve asked the BBC to look at what’s possible.”
Ms Nandy said she has “ongoing concerns” that the BBC needs “future-proofing” so whistleblowers are taken seriously and complaints are acted upon following her meeting with Mr Davie on Thursday.
The Culture Secretary told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chiles On Friday programme that Mr Davie “recognised there is much more work to do” and said the BBC had questions to answer.
She said: “There are questions, though, that many people have asked about –whistleblowers for example –and whether those complaints were investigated at the time, whether that full investigation has been done, what has been learnt for the future.
“There are questions about the contractual arrangements that the BBC has and whether it’s appropriate if people are suspended, particularly once they’ve been arrested, to continue to receive not just full pay, but also to see an uplift in that pay and whether there is anything that can be done in this case and in the future.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that Ms Nandy was “like the whole nation, shocked by Huw Edwards’ abhorrent actions, and her thoughts are with the victims whose lives have been destroyed”.
A former BBC executive told The Telegraph in a letter that Edwards should have been dismissed.
Vin Harrop, who hired Edwards to present the Six O’clock News, now the BBC News, said: “The contract he signed contained the vital clause ‘you shall not take any action which will bring the BBC into disrepute’.
“It seems he broke that clause, for which he should have been dismissed. Quite why the BBC did not take the action it was bound to, only Tim Davie can answer.”
Mr Davie earlier defended Edwards’ pay rise of £40,000 compared with 2022/23, when he was paid between £435,000 and £439,999.
He told BBC News it was made up of an “inflationary increase” and work the veteran broadcaster did at the corporation in February 2023 before any allegations were made.
Mr Davie said the corporation will “look at all options” in trying to reclaim pay from Edwards, but ruled out doing the same for his pension, for legal reasons.
Explaining the BBC’s decision not to go public with Edwards’ arrest, he said it was following police advice. He maintained that as Edwards remained suspended before his resignation, there were no issues relating to BBC employees’ safety.
While he knew the severity of the charges, Mr Davie said he was “very shocked” and found the specific evidence against Edwards “deeply disturbing”.
If Edwards had been charged while he was still an employee the BBC would have sacked him, the corporation previously said.
Honorary degree
Edwards looks set to be stripped of the honorary degree he received from York St John University in 2019.
A statement from the university said: “In light of the outcome of legal proceedings on Wednesday July 31 2024, our Honorary Awards Committee has begun the process to review Huw Edwards’ honorary degree with a recommendation that it is rescinded.”
Elsewhere, a plaque at Cardiff Castle commemorating the opening of its Interpretation Centre has also been removed, along with an audio guide featuring Edwards’ voice.
A spokesman for Cardiff council said: “The plaque on the Cardiff Castle Interpretation Centre has been removed and the audio guide discontinued. Cardiff Council is looking at options for a replacement narration.”
Edwards will next appear in court on Sept 16.
