Getty ImagesThe former chair of the BBC publicly thanked disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards for his “huge contribution” despite knowing he had been arrested in November last year.
Dame Elan Closs Stephens was appointed interim chair a few weeks before the Sun newspaper first made allegations about Edwards’ private life, leaving shortly before his resignation from the BBC in March this year.
She also referred to him as “poor Huw” on Welsh-language radio programme Beti a’i Phobol last month.
In a statement to BBC-produced Newyddion S4C, Dame Elan confirmed she was aware of the arrest in her capacity as interim chair of the BBC, but was not aware of the “terrible details which have come to light this week” after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
BBC director general Tim Davie confirmed on Thursday that he was aware of Edwards’ arrest and the nature of the allegations made against him in November last year, but not the specifics, and has defended the corporation’s handling of the case.
On 2 July, Dame Elan said on Welsh-language radio programme Beti a’i Phobol she was “proud to thank him [Edwards] personally for all his huge contribution and all the skills he has demonstrated that will help those who will succeed him”.
Discussing the initial allegations made by The Sun newspaper about Edwards’ personal life, published in July 2023 and prior to the criminal charges later brought against him, Dame Elan said: “It was a sad story, and it was obvious The Sun newspaper was going to make the most of the occasion because poor Huw was so well-known.”
“Of course, the Queen’s death and funeral and the Coronation had happened within a few months.
“The first thing of course was ensuring Huw was alright and that the family received care and protection.
“More than that, they have obviously come to an agreement after my time [as BBC chair] has ended so that matter is a private one.”
BBC Wales contacted Dame Elan initially to ask for her response to Edwards’ guilty plea on Wednesday. She declined to comment.
Newyddion S4C subsequently asked whether she stands by her comments on the ‘Beti a’i Phobol’ programme following Edwards’ guilty plea this week.
In her written statement, she did not address that point directly.
Dame Elan said revelations from the the court had come as a shock to her and that she was “horrified by it all”.
She added her “thoughts are with the children whose images are central to this story”.
Newyddion S4C also asked the BBC whether Dame Elan was informed of Edwards’ arrest last November and the nature of the investigation, but it is yet to receive a response.
The BBC launched an internal investigation into allegations about Edwards’ conduct, but the findings have not been published.
Newyddion S4C made a freedom of information request asking for any notes or correspondence relating to that investigation earlier this year.
It was rejected on 20 May, citing data protection laws relating to personal data.
After publication of the Sun’s initial story, police confirmed that there had been no criminality.
But Edwards was arrested in November last year in relation to allegations of making indecent images of children.
Mr Davie has confirmed he was made aware of the arrest and the nature of the allegations against Edwards, though not the specifics revealed this week, and said the police requested the information remained confidential.
Edwards was charged in June, information not made public until this week in court listings
He admitted having 41 indecent and illegal images of children on his phone.
Seven of the images were in the most serious category, with two images depicting children between around seven and nine years old.
Edwards was one of Wales’ most high-profile public figure as a main presenters on BBC One’s News at Ten and often fronting coverage of major national events until last year.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children on Wednesday.
Additional reporting, Bryn Jones