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FAMILY'S PAIN
We’re still suffering, say parents at centre of Huw Edwards scandal as they slam BBC for lack of answers after he quits
Edwards was suspended on full pay of £435,000 a year since the investigation began
THE devastated family at the heart of the Huw Edwards scandal told last night how they still need answers after the news anchor sensationally quit.
Holding back tears after learning £435,000-a-year Edwards had resigned from the BBC on “medical advice” the young person’s mum, said: “This isn’t the end for us.
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“We’re also suffering and have been immensely for nearly a year. We still have so many questions and need the BBC to answer them.”
She spoke out 55 days after the BBC made a public apology for mishandling a complaint that Edwards paid £35,000 to a youngster who sent him explicit images.
It admitted having been too slow to handle their original complaint, which was lodged last May.
That followed a damning 23-page independent report which revealed the grievance had not been logged and was “escalated” to bosses only when The Sun got in touch.
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The family had turned to us after accusing the corporation of failing to take seriously their concerns over one of its biggest stars.
At the time, the mum of the young person said the report underlined how vital it was to get answers for “everyone’s sake” and said: “It has taken nearly a year which has left me broken. We have been ripped apart as a family.
“It’s there in black and white — the BBC didn’t even log the complaint or follow it up.
“This is a devastating admission.
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"We can only hope this should speed up the process towards the proper conclusions we need.
"We want to move on knowing what we told the BBC has been properly investigated, whatever that takes.”
Last night, she said: “We are worried that we won’t get answers now Huw’s resigned yet we desperately need them.
“If he’s been found to have done something wrong, no action can be taken. My heart is broken.”
She went on: “This has been a traumatic time we feel hasn’t been resolved. We want closure. This doesn’t take us any closer to it.
The mum said she needed to know from the BBC whether News at Ten presenter Edwards, 62, had cooperated in their misconduct probe. He has been suspended on full pay since it began.
A BBC spokesman would not say whether Edwards had assisted with its internal investigation.
We have been ripped apart as a family
Mum of the youngster
The mum told The Sun: “The BBC’s statement said it wants all parties to move on. We want that more than anything but how can we? I don’t think anyone appreciates the hell we’ve been through.
“He’s walked away but we are still living through this nightmare. It’s been a year of pain.”
She added: “We feared this would happen. We can’t just have none of our questions answered. I just want my family to be reunited and for us all to get closure too.”
The family were sent an email from the BBC yesterday with its statement on Edwards.
It added: “Thank you for raising your concerns and participating in our investigation.”
The youngster’s stepdad, who made the original complaint, said he was told Edwards did not get a pay-off but the matter is now closed.
He said: “I’m furious. How can we be left like this?
“We have no closure, no answers. We aren’t accepting that. The BBC have a duty of care to us too.”
Our story on July 7 last year came after the complaint about Edwards was lodged at a BBC building almost two months earlier, on May 18.
The family had been referred to the BBC’s Audience Services Team who sent the case to its Corporate Investigations team.
They had begged the corporation to make Edwards “stop sending cash” after discovering that their child had been using the money to fund a spiralling drug habit.
Our bombshell story did not name Edwards, who was taken off air, and suspended three days later.
He’s walked away but we are still living through this nightmare
Mum of the youngster
A BBC investigation was launched into their star presenter, who announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II and led coverage of the King’s Coronation.
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The corporation’s Director-General Tim Davie also ordered a review to “assess how some complaints are red-flagged up the organisation”.
Amid the fallout, Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind named the father of five as the figure involved as BBC News revealed fresh claims.
She also announced that he was receiving hospital treatment for mental health issues.
Meanwhile, the report, released in February by auditors Deloitte, detailed how the family’s complaint had not been flagged to senior managers.
It also stated there was “insufficient” documentation of attempts to contact the family.
The report revealed: “The case was not logged on the case management system, meaning there was no opportunity for wider visibility of the case within the BBC.”
The corporation’s group chief operating officer Leigh Tavaziva said: “The report identifies specific process shortcomings in the presenter case.
“The initial complaint was not escalated quickly enough to senior management and we’ve apologised to the complainant for this.”
The BBC have a duty of care to us too
Youngster's family
She added: “We are delivering on an action plan with a number of enhancements already in place.”
Last night, a TV worker who complained to the BBC about Edwards said: “It is about time he went and it’s a relief but it still feels like things have been brushed under the carpet.
“We have not got any answers from the BBC and it feels like there has not been an investigation.
“I am sure any other network would have handled this differently and been more transparent.
“But, in typical BBC fashion, they seem to have done things behind closed doors.
"I understand that they have to respect Huw’s health — but it feels like they have wrapped the whole thing up without any real scrutiny. The statement raises more question than it answers.
“But at least everyone can move on now.”
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The BBC said yesterday it would not “comment on internal processes”.
Edwards, who is living in Wales with his elderly mother, has not commented on the scandal.
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THE SUN SAYS: BBC’s failures
THE scandal surrounding Huw Edwards began when The Sun was approached by a desperate couple.
They had firm evidence that the star was paying large sums to a vulnerable young person with a drug problem — and receiving explicit pictures.
The parents wanted those payments to stop, but their complaints to the BBC had been ignored.
Two months ago the corporation apologised to the couple for failing to take their allegations seriously until The Sun intervened.
It was a vindication for the parents and for our public interest journalism.
Yesterday, more than nine months after our first report, the BBC announced that Edwards had resigned with immediate effect.
The statement was curt. Observers will note the absence of any warm words or thanks for the presenter’s 40 years of service. Equally noteworthy is that Edwards will get no pay-off.
Shockingly, though, the parents are left without proper answers.
The BBC refuses to say what its internal investigations into the multiple complaints against Edwards found . . . or even if they were properly concluded.
As the young person’s mum says: “We just want closure, and this doesn’t take us any closer to it.”
The BBC failed them at the start of this sorry episode. It is failing them again now.
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