Ofcom investigates Edwards complaint over Channel 5 drama

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 17:57 · Archive

Ofcom is investigating former BBC presenter Huw Edwards's complaint about a Channel 5 drama depicting his downfall.

Ofcom is investigating a complaint from former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards about the Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards under its fairness and privacy rules. The two-part series, which starred Martin Clunes, was broadcast in March and became the channel's highest-rated show of the year, attracting 3.8 million viewers in four weeks.

Edwards, once one of the BBC's highest-paid newsreaders, confirmed that he had made the complaint. He said the programme failed to check the truth of aspects of its narrative and was unlikely to convey what actually happened. The drama focuses on an allegation made by the Sun in July 2023 that a "top BBC star" paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexual pictures. Edwards was later revealed to be the star in question.

In July 2024, Edwards pleaded guilty to accessing indecent photographs of children and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. Channel 5 has defended the programme, saying it was based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges, and court reporting.

How it is being reported

• Ofcom investigates Huw Edwards complaint over Channel 5 dramaFormer BBC presenter says programme starring Martin Clunes gave a misleading and unfair account of his downfall Britain’s media regulator is investigating a complaint from the former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards about a Channel 5 drama depicting his downfall. Ofcom said it was investigating Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards , which starred Martin Clunes and was broadcast earlier this year, under its “fairness and privacy” rules. Continue reading...The Guardian · 19 Oct, 17:31
• Ofcom launches probe into Huw Edwards drama Power - after disgraced BBC star made 'fairness' complaint to watchdogPower: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards was shown in March, about how the ex-BBC host was given a suspended jail sentence for making indecent images of children.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 16:40

In this story: Huw Edwards · Channel 5 · Martin Clunes · Ofcom · BBC

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem