Friends and colleagues of Huw Edwards have reacted with shock to the statement released by his wife.
Vicky Flind she called her husband as the BBC presenter faces a series of claims, including that he paid a teenager for explicit images.
said Mrs. Flind Edwards he was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now “receiving hospital care where he will remain for the foreseeable future,” as he asked for privacy for his family.
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Podcast host Jon Sopel, former US editor of BBC News, called the scandal “a horrific and shocking episode” and said the presenter’s “complicated private life” doesn’t “feel very private now”. .
“I hope this gives some food for thought. They really need it. I wish @thehuwedwards the best,” he tweeted.
The BBC’s world affairs editor John Simpson said he was “very sorry for everyone involved”.
He added: “No criminal offenses have been committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. We hope the press will leave them all alone now.”
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“Really annoying”
Former BBC editor Tim Luckhurst described Edwards as “one of the kindest, most reliable and most inspiring colleagues I have ever had the pleasure of working with”.
He told Sky News he was “absolutely shocked by the news” and said he was “genuinely upset”.
Luckhurst said: “There have always been two sides to this story. We’ve seen one face courtesy of The Sun, and I’m not criticizing The Sun for their reporting, which has really set the agenda, but we haven’t. heard Huw Edwards’ side of the story.
“Given that Huw Edwards is in hospital and his family want peace, I suspect we’ll be waiting a while to hear that, but we hope the BBC gets to the bottom of this and gets to the bottom of it rigorously and rigorously. a degree of speed, that would be really helpful.”
“Terrible state of affairs at all levels”
Former BBC correspondent Michael Cole told Sky News it was a “sad” and “terrible state of affairs across the board”.
He said: “Tonight a man is in hospital with a mental illness and we don’t know what his future will be.
“His professional life is in pieces. Maybe his whole future is in pieces.”
Meanwhile, former Downing Street communications chief Alistair Campbell said the presenter “is the perfect target for those who would undermine and destroy the BBC”.
He added: “The police have said no action should be taken, what he did or didn’t do is a matter for him and his family, and for the BBC.
“The obsession with this story has been yet another sign of a medium that has gone downright weird.”
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Former BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker tweeted: “This is a horrific situation and will come as a huge shock to many.
“Huw Edwards is clearly not in a good place at the moment and this must be terrible for his family.
“I just hope that whoever needs help, on all sides of this, is given the time, space and support they need to heal.”
