The BBC is taking urgent measures to remove its former star news presenter Huw Edwards from many hours of archive footage, according to UK press.
The Observer newspaper reports that the process has begun with the removal of any family and entertainment content including the longtime BBC news journalist, following his conviction for accessing abusive images of children on his phone earlier this week.
Prior to his fall from grace, which began with his suspension from the BBC in July 2023, he was one of the Corporation’s highest-profile presenters, given the responsibility of announcing the death of HM Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, and helming the coverage of King Charles’s Coronation and several General Election live events.
The Observer quotes BBC historian Jean Seaton explaining the scale of the challenge of erasing Edwards from its unique archive:
“Edwards’s role was adjacent to coverage with importance much larger than him – news and national events. That he was the familiar face of such important programmes is a problem. But these events are ours. I suspect the BBC can’t or won’t delete the archive – it may make clearly badged alternatives.”
The newspaper quotes a BBC spokesperson saying: “We are actively considering the availability of our archive,” a BBC spokesperson said. “While we don’t routinely delete content from the BBC archive, as it is a matter of historical record, we do consider the continued use and reuse of material.”
A 2006 episode of Doctor Who featuring Edwards has already been taken down, along with an episode of Great British Menu in which he appeared.
The BBC previously had to conduct the same process of erasure of veteran radio DJ and presenter Jimmy Savile, whose widespread child abuse was revealed following his death in 2011. Savile was one of the BBC’s most successful stars, fronting many editions of music show Top of the Pops, as well as his own named show Jim’ll Fix It in which he helped bring true the dreams of hundreds of young viewers who wrote in to the BBC.
Edwards was convicted of the charges against him on Wednesday in a London court. Sentencing will take place in September.