BBC staff are reportedly angry at bosses who are yet to recoup Huw Edwards’ £200,000 salary after over a year.
The disgraced TV star, 63, pled guilty to having indecent images of children, including those as young as seven, in July 2024.
He had admitted to three charges of making indecent photographs and receiving 41 illegal images from a convicted paedophile over WhatsApp.
Edwards was handed a six-month suspended prison term, and the BBC subsequently demanded he repay five months’ worth of salary, covering the period from his arrest in November 2023 until his resignation in April the following year.
According to reports, there are members of staff disgruntled at bosses not reclaiming the money while cutting 155 roles in the news division as part of a bid to save an estimated £24million.
‘Huw Edwards has not returned any money paid to him by the BBC after his arrest, in respect of any of his work for either BBC public service or the BBC’s commercial operations,’ the BBC said.
‘The BBC has asked for all the money paid to Huw Edwards by the BBC for the period November 2023 (arrest) and April 2024 (resignation) to be returned.’
An insider told The Sun that ‘everyone is raging about it’ behind the scenes.
As well as strong feelings towards Edwards following his conviction, it’s reported that are angry that ‘gutless bosses seem unwilling or unable to do anything about it’ in terms of the money.
In May this year, BBC chairman Dr Shah reiterated calls for the money to be returned.
‘Frankly, if Huw is listening to this: Give it back Huw, just give it back. Really, just give it back. You know you should and you should do it,’ Dr Shah, who has been BBC chairman since March 2024, told Times Radio.
He added: ‘We’ve been asking him and asking him and asking him. We’re getting legal advice on it.’
The corporation has made a number of public requests to Edwards regarding the money, and in August 2024 the BBC Board said: ‘Mr Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime.
‘Had he been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money.’
BBC director-general Tim Davie had explained to Amol Rajan that the BBC’s current policy indicates someone should be ‘paid until charged’, which is why the former newsreader received his salary after his November arrest.
‘We want the money back and we’ve asked for it back, and we’re waiting to hear back,’ Davie added.
Edwards had been on screens for 40 years and rose to become the highest-paid presenter on the channel with his 2023/2024 pay bracket of £475,000 to £479,999.
Metro has contacted reps for Huw Edwards and the BBC for comment.
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