mental how he has struggled with his mental health since 2002. in her statement, his wife, vicky flind, said he was suffering from serious mental health issues, as is well documented, she said he's been treated for severe depression in recent years, and she explained that the events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, and he suffered another serious episode and is now receiving inpatient care in hospital. where he will be for the foreseeable future, she said, and she did also emphasise the point that he will respond to these allegations once he's able to do so. south wales police have also been involved here and in a statement, they have said they have remained in contact with the metropolitan police and with the bbc following a meeting that took place on monday. they said information was initially received by the force in april this year

regarding the welfare of a not old, but they said no criminality was identified. they said following recent events, further inquiries have been carried out and officers have been carried out and officers have spoken to a number of parties to establish whether there has been any criminal allegations. they say this time there is no evidence for any criminal offences and there are no ongoing inquiries being carried out now by south wales police. but at the met police for said, they have gone on to say if that changes, they will course look into it. laura, what's happened in the past few hours, take us through the events of the past few days as well. in terms of how things have unfolded, on friday last week, the sun newspaper published its first

report carrying a mother's claims that an unnamed bbc presenter paid thousands to their 20—year—old child for explicit images over three years. they claimed it started when that child was 17, a potential criminal offence. are there allocations were published by the sun, and on sunday, the bbc suspended a male member of daft that we now know to be huw edwards. bbc executives met with police while the 20—year—old mentioned in the first sun story denied the claims through lawyers. yesterday, the sun published further allegations that the presenter huw edwards broke lockdown rules to visit a younger man and other allegations with somebody under the age of 18. on the same day, bbc news published claims of presenter sent menacing messages

to a person in their early 20s. just before six o'clock this evening, the met police confirmed they assessed there was no evidence of criminal activity after speaking to people involved in the initial allegations. the pause investigation then resumed. at the same time, huw edwards�*s wife said he was involved in all of this, saying he was in hospital after a serious mental health episode and added her husband intended to respond to the story once he was in a position to do so. laura, that's how we got to this point. just make it clear for us what happens now.— point. just make it clear for us what happens now. huw edwards has worked at the — what happens now. huw edwards has worked at the bbc _ what happens now. huw edwards has worked at the bbc since _ what happens now. huw edwards has worked at the bbc since 1984, - what happens now. huw edwards has worked at the bbc since 1984, and i worked at the bbc since 1984, and it's fair to say his paces synonymous with bbc news. when you

think of the bbc and our news output, huw edwards springs to mind. this comes as a huge shock to all of those involved, to colleagues and the wider audience. he has been there with us through key events, certainly in recent months, which will go down in history in terms of the death of queen elizabeth ii, her funeral, the coronation of king charles, huw edwards was at the forefront of all of that. now there is a very different story emerging. laura, thank you very much. let's also bring in roger bolton, former bbc executive and independent producer. let's start by getting your thoughts on everything that's been revealed today. i your thoughts on everything that's been revealed today.— been revealed today. i think it's traaic. i been revealed today. i think it's tragic. i think _ been revealed today. i think it's tragic. i think it _ been revealed today. i think it's tragic. i think it was _ been revealed today. i think it's. tragic. i think it was foreseeable, a lot of this. there are two tragedies involved. the original family involved in the position of huw edwards, and particularly his family. i want to say that i think

we need to stop speculating. i think it's admirable the bbc has been reporting openly the news in this way, but now there is a danger of being obsessive about it. there are other major events happening in the world much greater importance. now let the bbc investigation go ahead. anybody with any evidence, within or without the bbc, should give it to the bbc and the bbc should report openly to everyone about the situation. but there's far too much speculation. what there isn't is a proper investigation of the original journalism of the sun newspaper. the editor is not giving any interviews. they produced no evidence. you will see photographs, you will see bank accounts with money and bits flared out. they have produced no evidence at all at this point. they asked the

bbc to publish the details that they won't publish themselves. their big questions to the sun that are going to be asked. a lot of people in parliament who told... i hope a lot of them, even in opposition, said bbc should put its house in order. i don't think they need to reflect as we journalists need to on the way we handle this and what we should stop doing is speculating.— doing is speculating. earlier, i soke to doing is speculating. earlier, i spoke to alastair _ doing is speculating. earlier, i spoke to alastair campbell- doing is speculating. earlier, i. spoke to alastair campbell about this, and his opinion was that the media lost perspective on this. but there's a difference between what's in the public interest and what interest the public. how do you feel that tension has been managed so far when it comes to this story? i5 that tension has been managed so far

when it comes to this story?— when it comes to this story? is very difficult because _ when it comes to this story? is very difficult because if _ when it comes to this story? is very difficult because if there _ when it comes to this story? is very difficult because if there was - when it comes to this story? is very difficult because if there was a - difficult because if there was a suggestion of a real culprit by the bbc, it's a proper thing to be investigated. but i don't think there ever was, to be honest. i think i've been crystal when i said it's put the individual after the institution. it was clear that the only thing the bbc was guilty of if anything was a relatively slow response to the complaint. but i think there was a concerted attack by people who hate the bbc to inflate the story. i think one social media takes over and wants bandwagon takes over, it runs off the rails and bbc news very properly and very well, i thought, very honestly reported that again, i think have become over excessive. compared to other events, from ukraine to the hottest day the world

has ever seen, to a whole raft of things. don't speculate. give people time to investigate. and then hold them to account. but very carefully, because there are real families involved, there are real potential tragedies there. if we get too self obsessed and this, we will be responsible.— obsessed and this, we will be responsible. obsessed and this, we will be resonsible. ., . ., , ., ~' responsible. how much do you think is completed — responsible. how much do you think is completed by _ responsible. how much do you think is completed by social _ responsible. how much do you think is completed by social media? - responsible. how much do you think is completed by social media? even| is completed by social media? even if the absence of published figures talk about this, it would still continue on social media. band talk about this, it would still continue on social media. and i think people — continue on social media. and i think people not _ continue on social media. and i think people not realise - continue on social media. and i think people not realise when l continue on social media. if i think people not realise when they publish, orwhen think people not realise when they publish, or when they go on social media, they are publishing. but rather, this situation is going to

be worse. we are moving into the era of deep fake videos. it will be absolutely convincing. we therefore have to make even more rigorous attempts to check allegations before he could broadcast them. we've got ai coming i think all of us need to be very aware of this and make sure that we test the evidence before we go public. as well as understanding that personal consequences. of course we have to hold people to account, and of course you and bbc news must be scrupulous in the way they report. but let's make sure we're notjust airing allegations that no one has checked and no one knows about. in the previous segment, you are talking about these allegations of inappropriate comments made by allegedly huw

edwards. in the way which an older person talk to a younger person now, there's a massive amount of confusing. eye is an older person, frankly, not sure often what to use and what is appropriate —— i as an older person. it's clear when people say really inappropriate things, but there's a contested area we must be very careful with. because somebody�*s offended, it means there's been an offence. there might not off it been —— might not have been. just dial it down. not off it been -- might not have been. just dial it down.— been. just dial it down. that's an interesting _ been. just dial it down. that's an interesting point. _ been. just dial it down. that's an interesting point. one _ been. just dial it down. that's an interesting point. one of- been. just dial it down. that's an interesting point. one of the - interesting point. one of the difficulties here has been there's been no access to any real facts, so there has been a lot of speculation in that vacuum. lilo. there has been a lot of speculation in that vacuum.— there has been a lot of speculation in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go ofter the — in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after the sun, _ in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after the sun, put _ in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after the sun, put a _ in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after the sun, put a stop - in that vacuum. no, don't speculate. go after the sun, put a stop to - go after the sun, put a stop to speculation and on your own programme, there are plenty of other stories that should be picked up. do

that. report thoroughly, but stop speculating. bill that. report thoroughly, but stop speculating-— speculating. all right, you very much. speculating. all right, you very much- very — speculating. all right, you very much. very good _ speculating. all right, you very much. very good to _ speculating. all right, you very much. very good to have - speculating. all right, you very much. very good to have your| much. very good to have your thoughts. roger bolton there. let's bring you a that we're hearing. the bbc�*s director general tim davie has said that this will no doubt be a difficult time for many after a challenging few days. he added... he also said, "i wanted to write to the family. it's a reminder that the last few days have seen personal lives played out in public. at the heart of this are people and families. it will no doubt be a difficult time for many. i want to

reassure you that our immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved. this afternoon, the metropolitan police and southwell �*s police confirmed they would take no further action —— south wales. we were asked to pause our fact—finding investigations until that assessment have been concluded. it's important we now continue with this work. "we will follow due process. as we have done throughout, our aim must be to navigate through this with care and consideration in line with the bbc families." that is a message, and e—mail to staff by director general tim davie. that's something we've all received in our e—mail inboxes as bbc staff. i'm joined by former bbc correspondent danny shaw. first

of all, we've had this statement from tim davie. a lot of this has been about the bbc present or, who we now know it is huw edwards. but it's also been about the bbc and how the bbc has handled this very public case. {131 the bbc has handled this very public case. . ., , ., , the bbc has handled this very public case. , ., the bbc has handled this very public case. _, , .,, ., ~ case. of course it has, and i think it's uuite case. of course it has, and i think it's quite right _ case. of course it has, and i think it's quite right that _ case. of course it has, and i think it's quite right that tim davie - case. of course it has, and i think it's quite right that tim davie has| it's quite right that tim davie has written to staff. i think that's important because it will be many staff who know huw edwards and worked with him, who will probably be very upset at the news that he's in hospital and suffering from mental ill health. also the whole episode since friday night has shaken many people in the organisation, so i to get important that tim davie issued that e—mail to staff. in terms of the bbc�*s handling of it, i'm a bit more critical than roger bolton who you had on previously. i think that the bbc, when it got the initial

complaint, back in the middle of may, didn't do enough. they didn't do enough to investigate what tim davie has referred to as serious allegations of. all they did was make a phone call and send an e—mail to the family that made the complaint. that doesn't sound like pursuing it with much rigour to me. but equally, if the complaint was about huw edwards, knowing the history that he has very publicly revealed about severe depression, doubts of severe depression, even the serious allegations were made concerning him. the bbc had a real duty of care at that point to him to contact him and to see if everything was all right. we have had no indication that that was done. in fact, in the statement from huw edwards's wife, the first we learn to of the allegations was last week. it would appear that he wasn't contacted, no one went up to to him

to see if things were ok. serious allegations were made about employee had at his history and severe depression, you would expect that organisation, that employer would look out for that person and see whether everything was all right. we don't exactly know the details of the initial complaint and what was said. i the initial complaint and what was said. , ., ., said. i 'ust wonder, given that we don't said. i just wonder, given that we don't know _ said. i just wonder, given that we don't know the _ said. i just wonder, given that we don't know the details _ said. i just wonder, given that we don't know the details of- said. i just wonder, given that we don't know the details of what - said. i just wonder, given that we | don't know the details of what was handed... it don't know the details of what was handed... ., , ., don't know the details of what was handed... ., ., , ., , handed... it was a serious allegation. _ handed... it was a serious allegation. tim _ handed... it was a serious allegation. tim davie - handed... it was a serious allegation. tim davie and| handed... it was a serious - allegation. tim davie and told us a serious allegation was made in may. that concerned huw edwards, who was someone who had publicly revealed that he suffered from severe depression. it seems to me that the bbc had a duty of care towards him at that point, and to make some calls to speak to his manager and just check everything was ok, because the alarm bells should have been reading. because the alarm bells should have been reading-— been reading. well, one other thing tim davie pointed _ been reading. well, one other thing tim davie pointed out _ been reading. well, one other thing tim davie pointed out to _ been reading. well, one other thing tim davie pointed out to staff-

been reading. well, one other thing tim davie pointed out to staff and i tim davie pointed out to staff and emphasised was that metropolitan police in the south wales police confirmed they would take no further action. that's a significant line. of course. in the met police have acted gleefully —— the police have acted gleefully —— the police have acted quickly. the story was rather murky. i don't think they've ever published the e—mails that were reportedly sent by huw edwards, so i think that was quite significant. there was clearly the account from the young person at the centre of all this, saying the story was rubbish and there was no criminal offence at all. the police have looked into it and decided there's no information. i could change if more information comes to light, although they will probably be

mindful as well of his mental health at the moment, too. but that doesn't mean that there aren't some employment issues, some potential misconduct issues. he was suspended last sunday. that's a very different matter because employees, whoever they are, can't bring their employer into disrepute in any way. so, it remains to be seen where that investigation takes the bbc, and that may certainly be longer and rather tricky, given the fact that huw edwards is well known. that rather tricky, given the fact that huw edwards is well known. that is a tricky balance- _ huw edwards is well known. that is a tricky balance. tim _ huw edwards is well known. that is a tricky balance. tim davie _ huw edwards is well known. that is a tricky balance. tim davie did - huw edwards is well known. that is a tricky balance. tim davie did say - tricky balance. tim davie did say this remains a very complex set of circumstances and must be navigated with care. as a duty of care here to huw edwards as an employee, but also to the complainants, to the family of the young person. that's a difficult balance.—

of the young person. that's a difficult balance. yes, of course, they have _ difficult balance. yes, of course, they have to _ difficult balance. yes, of course, they have to be _ difficult balance. yes, of course, they have to be considered - difficult balance. yes, of course, they have to be considered in - difficult balance. yes, of course, they have to be considered in all| they have to be considered in all this. there's a young person who appeared to be quite vulnerable. if the stories are correct, the reports are correct, that they're using drugs and quite a significant way, that's of deep concern. we hope that they're getting support and help for that addiction. if that is indeed the case. i also think there's another point to make here. a lot of people have talked about the right to privacy and why wasn't he named and so on. i do think that, when a very high—profile present or who is a household name, who owns a significant amount of money, appears in strings every week —— our screens and presents some of the biggest events, when that person gives interviews about their personal life, about their mental health struggles, about the activities that they've taken up in their personal life and so on and opens up like that, i think their expectations of

whether they are entitled to privacy in a private life are rather different from an employee in a company where broadcaster who goes about their work and quite a low—key fashion — it could be a pretty suture up behind the scene or researcher —— a producer. i do think, being well known and famous, being a felt household name, confers some great advantages and you can have some great times. but there's also a downside, which is you have to give away a bit of your private life quite often. i do think there should have been an expectation when this story broke, and i think the bbc should have been a bit quicker, to put his name out there in and to explain the facts. at the same it's taken this event to bring all this about, perhaps huw edwards and his

family should have will acted earlier to put his name out there, and i think that would of clarified matters i given what we've heard today from the matters i given what we've heard today from th— matters i given what we've heard today from the police, saying they haven't found _ today from the police, saying they haven't found any _ today from the police, saying they haven't found any criminal- today from the police, saying they haven't found any criminal activity| haven't found any criminal activity here to proceed investigating, what do you make of the newspaper's decision to publish what they did? well, it is interesting to roger bolton said the sun hat and put up anyone to speak about this —— had not. i think there are serious questions to be asked, and i don't say that in a way in which i don't respect the journalism of a tabloid newspaper. i do because i think they do incrediblejournalism. they may well have been a legitimate public interest in the story, but the way it was told initially, the way it came across was that this presenter had broken the law. because a

17—year—old has sent explicit images or was asked to in large tonnes of money. the other thing i think is disturbing is that, according to the young person at the centre of all this, they told the sun but the story was rubbish, no criminal event �*s had been committed, nothing inappropriate happened. and if the sun... they should have taken it on board. they may still have decided they had a decent story, but they needed to reflect what that person said of their coverage. if the person is correct, it's a serious error on behalf of the sun that they didn't at least print that denial from that young person. thank you very much- — from that young person. thank you very much- donny _ from that young person. thank you

very much. danny shaw. _ i'v e i've also been speaking to former journalist turned political strategist alastair campbell. he argues that this story shows how you could media has lost perspective on big stories. take a listen. weill. on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it was _ on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it was only _ on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it was only a _ on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it was only a matter of - on big stories. take a listen. well, i think it was only a matter of time given the scale of the frenzy around this story that was named. i think for it to happen courtesy of his wife, with the explanation of he's in hospital, is very, very sad. i think huw edwards is a huge figure in the bbc. because of his role, he is a big figure within our national life and i think he's very, very well—liked and very popular, incredibly professional and is seen as a great broadcaster. but i do

think that some of the other issues that david touched upon there, i do think this is not about much more than huw edwards. it's about what happens when our media culture loses any sense of perspective about a story. i'm not denying that this isn't news that where the —— newsworthy and that the sun had every right to investigate, but i think it's more a story about the bbc. i think that the bbc handled it well in the first 24 hours or so when they were determined to show this. but i think since then, there'sjust been this this. but i think since then, there's just been this feeding frenzy, and a kind of cruelty to the coverage that has been about forcing the name out. all this debate about the name out. all this debate about the changing of the law when cliff richards was named in the police

investigation. i think we need to get a grip on our perspective. you've got literally the kind of future world peace on the agenda, you've got... i think a far bigger scandal today is the story about borisjohnson not handing over his phone when he said with a what. that's a former prime minister, not a bbc news reader. the police came out and said there was no crime to investigate. this isjust crazy stuff. and ijust hope that now, once the... i completely understand why you're talking about it now, but i think once we've absorbed the fact, i think his family are entitled to privacy and everyone else involved is. the bbc gets all investigation and let's move on. many people would echo your sentiments or already have. but it's the age—old tension about what is in

the age—old tension about what is in the public interest in what interest the public interest in what interest the public. what is the story really about to your mind? i the public. what is the story really about to your mind?— about to your mind? i still don't think we really _ about to your mind? i still don't think we really know _ about to your mind? i still don't think we really know because i about to your mind? i still don't| think we really know because we don't actually know that much more than we did the very first day this story broke. wejust than we did the very first day this story broke. we just don't know. but i do think this has become a story about the way our media operates in about the way our media operates in a story about how we lose perspective on these things. i suspected a lot of your viewers, i'll be honest, i'm one of them — i'vejust been turning i'll be honest, i'm one of them — i've just been turning off the news whenever this... the news has been leading on this story. until something happens, it'sjust been endless back to factory. i do think the sun has an agenda. —— needless

blah factory. i do think that they are constant... the front page, the bbc are liars. i think there's a guy who hasn't even talked about his predecessor lying to parliament. yet think this is something we should be talking about. to think this is something we should be talking about-— talking about. to be fair, rishi sunak was _ talking about. to be fair, rishi sunak was asked _ talking about. to be fair, rishi sunak was asked about - talking about. to be fair, rishi sunak was asked about it, - talking about. to be fair, rishi l sunak was asked about it, which talking about. to be fair, rishi - sunak was asked about it, which is why he responded that. {lilia sunak was asked about it, which is why he responded that.— why he responded that. ok, but i hoe ou why he responded that. ok, but i hope you take — why he responded that. ok, but i hope you take my _ why he responded that. ok, but i hope you take my point _ why he responded that. ok, but i hope you take my point that this| hope you take my point that this thing becomes a media frenzy. he was asked about it because the media was deciding this was the only thing that anybody cares about, when i think the public care an awful lot more. we had the levinson inquiry a few years ago. i don't think it's made that much of a change. the second part is not even going ahead.

the thing that gets my goat is the double standards. i mentioned the johnson thing. by anybody�*s standards, the sharia standards. but johnson still has friends in these papers. we know for some of the downing street parties, journalists were at them. do we see the medium for —— media pursuing them? know, we see relations between politics and the media. this is happening because it's the bbc and the sun. part of the newspaper whole strategy is to get themselves talked about on the airwaves. i'm not saying it's not a story, but the idea that it's a story, but the idea that it's a story that because the sun light on it, it should be every bulletin in the country is utterly ridiculous. if we focus on the bics about this that could be a story, looking at the statement from vicki flynn, said that huw edwards is suffering from

serious mental health should choose —— issues. she notes it's been well documented and he's been treated for severe depression. just your thoughts on that and how this very private issue is now being publicly discussed. in private issue is now being publicly discussed. ., private issue is now being publicly discussed. . ._ private issue is now being publicly discussed. . ., ,�* private issue is now being publicly discussed. . ., , �* ., discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be. i discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be- ithink— discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be. i think to _ discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be. i think to huw's _ discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be. i think to huw's credit, - discussed. in a way, it doesn't have to be. i think to huw's credit, has. to be. i think to huw's credit, has talked about his depression before. we talked at some length about his depression. i've talked to huw about the bbc presenter huw edwards has his depression several times in the been named as the per to | facing past. i think it's good that people his depression several times in the past. i think it's good that people feel able and willing to be open feel able and willing to be open about their mental health, but i about their mental health, but i know exactly what the thinking know exactly what the thinking behind that will be in some of our behind that will be in some of our newspapers tonight. as vicki flynn newspapers tonight. as vicki flynn makes that appeal, if the guy talks makes that appeal, if the guy talks

about his mental health and ends up about up in hospital, that's an additional about his mental health and ends up in hospital, that's an additional thing to cover.— thing to cover. live from london, in hospital, that's an additional thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc _ this is bbc _ thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc news. _ thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc news. _ thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc news. huw _ thing to cover. live from london, thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc news. huw edwards i thing to cover. live from london, j this is bbc news. huw edwards is named as the bbc persian facing this is bbc news. huw _ thing to cover. live from london, this is bbc news. huw i facing | named as the bbc persian facing allegations. —— the bbc presenter. allegations. presenter. his wife says he's suffering mental allegations. —— the bbc presenter. his wife says he's suffering mental health issues and is now receiving health issues and is now receiving inpatient hospital care. this health issues and is now receiving inpatient hospital care.— inpatient hospital care. this is a man that has — inpatient hospital care. this is a man that has embodied - inpatient hospital care. this is a inpatient hospital care. this is a man that has — inpatient hospital care. this is a man that has embodied - inpatient hospital care. this is a man that has embodied bbc- inpatient hospital care. this is a - man that has embodied bbc valued, has been the face of the bbc, has man that has embodied bbc- inpatient hospital care. this is a - held viewers back —— viewers' hands man that has embodied bbc valued, inpatient hospital care. this is a - man that has emt -- ed bbc valued, through parts of our nation's history. through parts of our nation's histo . ~ ., ., through parts of our nation's histo . ~ ., history. the metropolitan police have ended _ history. the metropolitan police have ended their— history. the metropolitan police have ended their inquiry - history. the metropolitan police have ended their inquiry into - history. the metropolitan police | have ended their inquiry into the allegations against huw edwards. the force said they had found no out of the evidence. the bbc presenter huw edwards has been named as the person facing