‘Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues’
Huw Edwards is receiving in-patient care “where he will remain for the foreseeable future”, his wife said on Wednesday, as she named her husband as the BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images.
As the Met Police determined the then-unnamed presenter had no criminal case to answer over the allegations, Huw’s wife, Vicky Flind, released a statement on his behalf.
Vicky said it had been “five extremely difficult days for our family” since The Sun newspaper reported on Saturday that a high-profile BBC presenter had paid a teenager £35,000 for explicit images.
The BBC suspended the presenter on Sunday, some seven weeks after the youngster’s family approached the broadcaster on May 17, and has been under significant scrutiny ever since.
Vicky said she issued a statement, “primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.”
Her statement continued: “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.
“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.”
Vicky said, “to be clear” Huw was only told of the allegations against him last Thursday.
“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.
“I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”
Related links:
Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images
BBC suspends presenter accused of paying thousands to teen for explicit pictures
Gary Lineker denies being BBC host accused of ‘paying teen for explicit pics’
Jeremy Vine and Rylan Clark deny they are the BBC host accused of ‘paying teen for explicit pics’
