Police say Huw Edwards committed no offence amid claims he paid teen for explicit pics

The wife of the BBC’s top royal presenter has outed her husband as the star accused of paying $86,000 to a young person for sexually explicit pictures.

Huw Edwards, one of the BBC’s key royal presenters, is the star accused of allegedly paying a teen more than $86,000 to send sexually explicit images, according to the accused’s wife Vicky Flind.

In a statement on behalf of her husband, Flind revealed the News at Ten anchor has been hospitalised “for the foreseeable future” after suffering “serious mental health issues” amid the scandal.

It comes as the MET Police said there was no evidence of a criminal offence being committed by Edwards, who led the broadcaster’s coverage of King Charles III’s coronation.

Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter caught up in nude pictures scandal. Picture: Supplied

“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years,” Ms Flind said.

“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving inpatient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.”

“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.”

Edwards is a household name in the UK and won accolades for his royal coverage, including the 2023 Television and Radio Industries Club’s “Live Event” award for 'The State Funeral of HM Queen'.

Huw Edwards with the Live Event award for 'The State Funeral of HM Queen' during The TRIC Awards 2023 at Grosvenor House on June 27, 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Text messages between the 2 unnamed people

Flind said her husband was first told of the allegations last Thursday, a day before The Sun published the bombshell claims he paid $68,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for sexually explicit images.

While the person involved denied the allegations, made by the alleged victim’s mother, three other young people came forward with claims of threatening messages and the breaking of Covid lockdown rules for a secret lovers tryst.

The BBC has suspended Edwards and will move forward with an internal investigation after the MET Police said there were no criminal offences committed.

The age of consent in the UK is 16 but it can be a criminal offence to make, distribute or possess indecent images of anyone under 18.

BBC Broadcasting House in London. Picture: Getty Images

Flind asked for privacy for her family and “everyone else caught up in these upsetting events”.

“I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation,” Find said.

“We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”

BBC colleague Jeremy Vine had called on Edwards to “come forward publicly” in light of the new allegations in the scandal.

“These new allegations will result in yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues of his,” Vine wrote on Twitter.

“And the BBC, which I’m sure he loves, is on its knees with this. But it is his decision and his alone.”

Originally published as Police say Huw Edwards committed no offence amid claims he paid teen for explicit pics