LONDON (AP) — The BBC said it is shocked at the “abhorrent” behavior of its former top news presenter Huw Edwards, who admitted Wednesday to accessing indecent images of children sent to him by a man via the WhatsApp messaging service.
During a 26-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London, the 62-year-old Edwards — for decades the trusted front man of BBC News — pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
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Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, right, with former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
He was released on bail until a pre-sentencing hearing on Sept. 16 and could face up to 10 years in prison, though the prosecution conceded that a suspended sentence may be appropriate.
The court was told that 377 sexual images were sent to Edwards on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021. Of them, 41 were indecent images of children, including seven classified as “category A,” which were the most indecent, with the estimated age of most of the children between 13 and 15. One child was aged between 7 and 9.
“The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today,” the public broadcaster said in a statement. "There can be no place for such abhorrent behavior and our thoughts are with all those affected."
Edwards’ admission of guilt marks a dramatic fall from grace. After starting at BBC Wales 40 years ago, Edwards was the lead anchor on the BBC’s nighttime news for two decades and led the public broadcaster’s coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 as well as election specials.
One of the BBC’s top earners, he was suspended in July 2023 for separate claims made last year, and subsequently resigned in April on health grounds. No charges were brought in relation to those claims.
The BBC revealed that it was made aware in November “in confidence” that Edwards had been arrested on suspicion of serious offenses and released on bail while police continued their investigation. It added that it would have dismissed him if he had been charged.
It was revealed earlier this week that he had been charged in late June — at which point he "was no longer an employee of the BBC,” the broadcaster said.
Sophie Raworth, who was presenting the early evening news on Wednesday, stressed that the BBC news department is independent from the broadcaster's hierarchy. She said it only learned that Edwards had been charged on Monday along with everyone else when the Metropolitan Police revealed he was due in court Wednesday.
Following Edwards’ admission of guilt, police identified the man who sent the images to him as Alex Williams, 25. He was sentenced to a suspended 12-month sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in Wales in March, after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing indecent images as well as possessing prohibited images of children.
An investigation into Edwards began after a seized phone revealed his participation in a WhatsApp conversation, police said.
“Accessing indecent images of underage people perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children, which has deep, long-lasting trauma on these victims,” said Claire Brinton of the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether a case should go to court.
Speaking in Edwards’ defense, lawyer Philip Evans said there is “no suggestion” that his client had “in the traditional sense of the word, created any image of any sort.”
Edwards, he added, "did not keep any images, did not send any to anyone else, and did not and has not sought similar images from anywhere else.” He added that Edwards had “both mental and physical” health issues and that he is "not just of good character, but of exceptional character.”
Prosecutor Ian Hope told the court that Edwards' “genuine remorse” was one reason why a suspended sentence might be considered. Setting out the potential penalties under the law, he said that where there is the prospect of rehabilitation, a community order and sexual offender treatment program could be considered as alternatives to prison.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said in a statement that there should be “no doubt” about the seriousness of Edwards' crimes.
“It can be extremely traumatic for young people to know sexual images of themselves have been shared online," it said. “We also need to see online platforms do much more to identify and disrupt child abuse in private messaging services in order to safeguard young people.”
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, right, with former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 where he is charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — As many in the entertainment industry navigate the devastating effects of the California wildfires, some will soon be decamping to cleaner air in the mountains. The annual Sundance Film Festival begins Thursday in Park City, Utah.
The 41st edition of Robert Redford’s brainchild will, as always, be a year of discovery and discussion. There are timely films:
— “Free Leonard Peltier,” which will premiere just days after former President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of the Indigenous activist nearly half a century after he was imprisoned for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.
— Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov’s“2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a joint production between The Associated Press and Frontline about an attempt to liberate an occupied territory in Ukraine
— Several films about trans rights including “Heightened Scrutiny,” about civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio. It's a topic even more pressing after President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday rolling back protections for transgender people.
There are even some controversies brewing: “The Stringer,” from documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen, calls into question who took the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Napalm Girl” photograph. Retired AP photographer Nick Ut and the AP, which conducted a six-month investigation into the allegation, are contesting it and Ut's lawyers have asked for it to be pulled from the program.
“The film is an investigation,” said Eugene Hernandez, the director of the festival, who is moving forward with plans to screen it. “I think it will be a really important conversation that will come out over the next few days after the film is seen by more people.”
Don’t worry, it’s not all heavy. There’s drama of course, even a film about starting over after a fire (“Rebuilding,” with Josh O’Connor), horror, satire, literary adaptations, comedy, documentaries about famous faces, and some that simply defy categorization.
“There’s some really funny stuff in the program,” Hernandez said. One of those Hernandez cited is “Bubble & Squeak,” about a married couple accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where they’re banned.
For first time filmmakers, Sundance can be their chance to break through in a big way. That happened last year for “Dìdi” filmmaker Sean Wang. Some films that debuted last January are still in the awards conversation, like “A Real Pain” and “A Different Man.” For actors, the festival is both a casual respite to awards season glitz (snow boots are more likely on red carpets than high heels) and can be a chance to show audiences a new dimension of their talent.
“It’s a strong year of renewal for our artist community,” Hernandez said. “And we have a lot of really great voices and stories that we get to unveil in the coming days.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Sundance runs from Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. There are about 90 features premiering across the 11 days, with screenings starting early in the morning through midnight. Award-winners will be announced on Jan. 31.
Stars with films premiering include Jennifer Lopez, Benedict Cumberbatch, Diego Luna, Conan O’Brien, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Colman, André Holland, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Bowen Yang, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Lily Gladstone, Dev Patel, Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Marlee Matlin, John Malkovich, Rose Byrne, Chloë Sevigny, Josh O’Connor, Ben Whishaw, Dylan O’Brien, Lili Reinhart and Willem Dafoe.
One of the greatest things about Sundance is that it’s often the under-the-radar movies that become the breakouts.
But some of the higher-profile premieres going into the festival include: Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider-Woman,” starring Lopez; Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s documentary “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)”; “Opus,” a horror about the cult of celebrity with Edebiri and John Malkovich; Andrew Ahn’s “The Wedding Banquet,” with Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran; the war satire “Atropia,” with Alia Shawkat; “Pee-wee as Himself,” about the late Paul Reubens; “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore”; and Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman’s doc “The Alabama Solution,” about a cover-up in one of America’s most notorious prison systems.
Festival organizers have been in dialogue with filmmakers, staff, audiences and donors about the effects of the fires, supporting and accommodating where possible including pushing back deadlines to allow filmmakers more time to finish. The festival will also have a QR code displayed before screenings for information on sharing resources or contributing to relief efforts.
“As hard as the last week has been, this will be a moment to come together,” Hernandez said. “The community’s really responding to support those who need it most right now. I think that’s going to be a profound aspect of this year’s festival.”
For the most part, yes. Starting in 2027 the festival will no longer be primarily based in Park City. It may stay in Utah but would operate mainly out of Salt Lake City. Other finalists are Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sundance Institute is expected to announce its final decision in the first quarter of 2025.
“Park City as the home of Sundance is such a special place,” Hernandez said. “I look at it optimistically because we have two more exciting years in this current configuration. I think we’re going to make the most of those two years and make them as memorable and meaningful as we can.”
Access to the movies premiering at Sundance doesn’t necessary require an expensive trip to Park City anymore. The festival has fully embraced an online component for many of their films.
What started as a necessary COVID-19 adjustment has become a vital part of the program. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, audiences can stream much of the program online. Prices start at $35 for a single film ticket and go up to $800 for unlimited access.
Otherwise, films that secure distribution can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to hit theaters or streaming services. Steven Soderbergh's “Presence,” which premiered last January, is just hitting theaters this week.
For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)