Huw Edwards ‘tried to groom’ pupil and gave him tour of BBC newsroom

New documentary claims disgraced former BBC News at 10 presenter sent flirty messages calling teenager ‘big boy’ and ‘babe’

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Huw Edwards groomed a teenage musician he met at a school concert and gave him a personal tour of the BBC, it has been alleged.
In a new documentary, it is claimed the disgraced former BBC News at 10 presenter sent flirty messages to the pupil calling him “big boy” and “babe”.
Edwards, 63, is said to have told the starstruck teenager to follow him on Instagram after promising to help his music career.
The teenager, referred to as Emyr, was 18 when the former face of the BBC – who was spared jail after admitting making indecent images of children in September – began a pattern of “grooming” behaviour.
Speaking to Welsh language broadcaster S4C’s programme Y Byd ar Bedwar, Emyr said: “People like him believe they can do whatever they want and abuse their power”.
Emyr – not his real name – said he was performing in his school uniform at a community concert, where Edwards was the compère.
“He came up to me at the end of the night to say hello,” he told the programme.
“He said that the performance was good, that I was very talented and that he wanted to connect with me.”
Emyr has alleged that Edwards told him to follow his Instagram, saying he could help with his music career.
He continued: “He asked me if I wanted to meet him in London and have a tour of the BBC, where I could meet a few contacts.”
Having accepted the invitation, Emyr was given a personal tour of the newsroom, where he was introduced to BBC colleagues as a “friend” of Edwards who had a “musical talent”.
Emyr said he was promised opportunities to perform at concerts in London, but this never materialised despite messages back and forth on Instagram.
In them, Edwards called the teenager “babe” and “big boy” while sending him kisses and heart messages.
“He was trying to flirt,” Emyr said, having originally thought they were “banterous”.
“It was some sort of grooming communication.”
The pair’s communication ended after a few months, when Emyr stopped replying to the messages, prompting Edwards to unfollow him.
“He just lost interest in me,” he said.
“I don’t think I gave him what he was looking for.”
Emyr believes the broadcaster abused the power he held as one of the BBC’s most prominent presenters.
“I feel very sad for the people who have been affected worse than me,” he continued.
“I feel lucky in a way. It’s completely disgusting.”
Emyr said nobody challenged him on being in the newsroom, adding: “There should be some sort of procedure or professional reason for someone to enter the building.”
Edwards did not respond to S4C’s request for a response.
The BBC said it had commissioned an independent review “with a particular focus on preventing abuse of power”.
In September, Edwards was found guilty of paying a convicted paedophile, up to £1,500 after receiving images of child sex abuse.
The former BBC newsreader was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to undertake a sex offender treatment programme, undergo a rehabilitation activity requirement order and sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
A BBC spokesman said: “We have been clear that we are appalled by Huw Edwards’ crimes. He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.
“A Board-commissioned independent review of the BBC’s workplace culture is currently underway, with a particular focus on preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the BBC conducts themselves in line with our values.”
“The BBC has robust safeguarding policies and processes in place. If people contact us directly with concerns about our protocols we will look at these carefully, in line with the BBC’s Complaints Framework.”