BBC Fires Top Presenter Accused of Paying Teen $45K for Sexually Explicit Photos

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced Wednesday it had fired top presenter Huw Edwards following reports he illegally paid tens of thousands of dollars to a teenager in exchange for sexually explicit photos.

The allegations against Edwards, whose nearly 40-year career included announcing Queen Elizabeth’s death on the network, were first made over the weekend in an article from The Sun, which didn’t immediately identify him, instead only saying he was a “familiar face who is known to millions.”

The Sun said it spoke to the family of the child, now aged 20, which claimed Edwards had paid their child upwards of £35,000 ($45,400 USD) over the span of three years for lewd photos and sexual performances, which the child used to fund a crack cocaine addiction.

The furious mother told last night how her child had gone from “a happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict” in just three years.

They approached The Sun, making it clear they wanted no payment.

The mother said: “All I want is for this man to stop paying my child for sexual pictures and stop him funding my child’s drug habit.”

She told how her child, now 20, had shown her an online bank statement that had numerous deposits from the star.

Holding back tears, she added: “There were huge sums, hundreds, or thousands of pounds at a time. 

“One time he had sent £5,000 in one lump. The money had been in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of my child.” 

Sleazy messages are alleged to have started in 2020, when the youngster was 17.

The family say the BBC presenter never hid his identity and even sent pictures of himself at work.

She said she was told the star requested “performances” and, heartbreakingly, her child said they would “get their bits out”.

The family first notified the BBC about the claims seven weeks ago, which confirmed they’d be looked into. Meanwhile, Edwards stayed on air.

Speculation over the identity of the mysterious “household name” prompted several BBC presenters to publicly clear their names.

Following The Sun’s report Saturday, the BBC suspended Edwards. The UK government also ordered the network to “urgently” investigate the claims.

On Wednesday, the BBC acknowledged Edwards was the person of interest and had been dismissed, adding at least three BBC colleagues had also made allegations against him claiming “inappropriate behavior.”

Following the news, Edwards’ wife came forward claiming he suffers “from serious mental health issues,” and “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.

“To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made 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.”

The wife’s statement bizarrely came just moments after the Metropolitan Police released a statement claiming there was no evidence a criminal offense was committed.

“The Met Police said detectives from its specialist crime command have ‘concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed’,” reported Sky News.

However, the matter may only get worse for Edwards as The Sun has subsequently suggested he’s possibly a serial offender and also allegedly sent “threatening and abusive messages” to another person who threatened to reveal his identity.

The newspaper reported Wednesday that “Since The Sun revealed the allegations a further three youngsters have come forward.”

Yesterday, a second person claimed they received “threatening messages” from the suspended presenter.

The individual in their early 20s told the BBC they were contacted anonymously by Edwards on a dating app before being put under pressure to meet up.

They said after connecting on a dating app the conversation moved to other platforms where Edwards’ identity was revealed.

Edwards is then accused of sending the “menacing” and “abusive” messages after the second youngster suggested naming him online.

BBC News claimed it has seen the messages from the presenter to the young person and verified the phone number of Edwards.

A third youngster approached The Sun and claimed the star broke Covid lockdown laws to meet them, while a fourth told us they received inappropriate messages from the broadcaster from when they were 17.

The BBC presenter’s ousting was mocked by none other than male empowerment guru Andrew Tate, who shared a video of Edwards reporting on fake news involving him.