I was busy watching tennis yesterday when a friend rang me to discuss the revelation that Edwards was "the presenter". I was genuinely shocked and think I still am.
It made me feel very sad indeed.
I doubt he will take up any other career, Iain. He will get peace, I think, because of who he is but I think further work in broadcasting is doubtful. The mental health issues will have to be addressed too because, if true, then he's not a well man.
Other "complaints" are emerging from within the BBC as well and those things will have to be investigated. Who knows how that will go?
I can't see a way back for him there. Plus, would he want one after this? His fall has been spectacular.
Huw Edwards will retire I think and I'd say that's the best thing for him. He is not exactly on the low pay scale so I suspect he will be perfectly comfortable in retirement.
To be honest, Jo, his name has been floating around my Facebook for a few days.
The story itself is being used by other Murdoch tools, such as TalkNews, and others in the right wing undergrowth, such as GBNews as a stick to beat the BBC with, as was presumably intended.
Anne, there is a column in the Guardian today by some guy, former BBC executive, Roger Bolton, who seems outraged that the BBC is held to account at all. I found the article quite worrying, to be honest.
There is clearly an ongoing investigation now into various things. The BBC must do that. Roger Bolton takes a very different view and not a reassuring one.
I suppose it is nice that Huw Edwards is being treated so kindly. I'm sure Phillip Schofield envies him.
Gosh, the BBC vs The Sun. If it was a football match, you would be hoping they both got beat. I hope someone explains to Mr Bolton that no organisation is beyond criticism. And I hope someone sues The Sun to oblivion - they're now trying to claim that they didn't say he had behaved illegally. They've done this too often before. Their definition of "young person" is very elastic. Sam Fox was 16 when she first "modelled" for them. Shamina Begum was 15 when she was groomed by ISIS, yet she is to be treated as a fully responsible adult. But for the purposes of The Sun's story, people are their 20s are to be viewed as vulnerable young people?
Completely agree with your analysis and so glad that people as well regarded as yourself are in his corner. Public trial by the Sun is not something that should ever be believed or accepted as truth. What a shame for Huw Edwards and his family they must be devastated .
2) They obviously didn't have enough evidence to name him outright, so why publish the story? They apparently got the original phone call last Wednesday and published it by the weekend, without speaking to either of the principals.
3) There was a very strong suggestion of the young person being underage, but surely no-one goes onto a DATING website expecting to find underage teenagers there? Also, see 1) above
4) Most people were wondering what real news story was being covered up, and it turns out Johnson failed to hand over his Whatsapp messages (as ordered by the High Court), a story which was totally ignored by the media in their BBC feeding frenzy.
5) The parents admitted they were estranged from the young person the original story was about.
6) The second "young person" was in their 20s and used social media to threaten to expose him. But was apparently shocked at the angry response! What a sheltered, consequence free life they must have led. This person was not a child.
7) The hypocrisy of The Sun, who made their money exploiting the bodies of young people on page 3, is as nauseating as always.
I don’t care what anyone says, I love Huw Edwards and I hate The Sun and the BBC. The Beeb’s desire to be seen ‘right-on’ and ‘down with the kids’ (that’s what they say, isn’t it?!) disgusts me and has lost me as one of its biggest fans. Also this herd mentality of the British tabloids of bullying usually white men for any discretion, regardless of mental state, is nauseating. I very much doubt, like you, Iain, that Edwards did anything criminal, but that doesn’t stop the mob baying for blood.
I was busy watching tennis yesterday when a friend rang me to discuss the revelation that Edwards was "the presenter". I was genuinely shocked and think I still am.
It made me feel very sad indeed.
I doubt he will take up any other career, Iain. He will get peace, I think, because of who he is but I think further work in broadcasting is doubtful. The mental health issues will have to be addressed too because, if true, then he's not a well man.
Other "complaints" are emerging from within the BBC as well and those things will have to be investigated. Who knows how that will go?
I can't see a way back for him there. Plus, would he want one after this? His fall has been spectacular.
Huw Edwards will retire I think and I'd say that's the best thing for him. He is not exactly on the low pay scale so I suspect he will be perfectly comfortable in retirement.
To be honest, Jo, his name has been floating around my Facebook for a few days.
The story itself is being used by other Murdoch tools, such as TalkNews, and others in the right wing undergrowth, such as GBNews as a stick to beat the BBC with, as was presumably intended.
Anne, there is a column in the Guardian today by some guy, former BBC executive, Roger Bolton, who seems outraged that the BBC is held to account at all. I found the article quite worrying, to be honest.
There is clearly an ongoing investigation now into various things. The BBC must do that. Roger Bolton takes a very different view and not a reassuring one.
I suppose it is nice that Huw Edwards is being treated so kindly. I'm sure Phillip Schofield envies him.
Gosh, the BBC vs The Sun. If it was a football match, you would be hoping they both got beat. I hope someone explains to Mr Bolton that no organisation is beyond criticism. And I hope someone sues The Sun to oblivion - they're now trying to claim that they didn't say he had behaved illegally. They've done this too often before. Their definition of "young person" is very elastic. Sam Fox was 16 when she first "modelled" for them. Shamina Begum was 15 when she was groomed by ISIS, yet she is to be treated as a fully responsible adult. But for the purposes of The Sun's story, people are their 20s are to be viewed as vulnerable young people?
Completely agree with your analysis and so glad that people as well regarded as yourself are in his corner. Public trial by the Sun is not something that should ever be believed or accepted as truth. What a shame for Huw Edwards and his family they must be devastated .
For me, The Sun story stank from the start.
1) No-one should ever believe The Sun
2) They obviously didn't have enough evidence to name him outright, so why publish the story? They apparently got the original phone call last Wednesday and published it by the weekend, without speaking to either of the principals.
3) There was a very strong suggestion of the young person being underage, but surely no-one goes onto a DATING website expecting to find underage teenagers there? Also, see 1) above
4) Most people were wondering what real news story was being covered up, and it turns out Johnson failed to hand over his Whatsapp messages (as ordered by the High Court), a story which was totally ignored by the media in their BBC feeding frenzy.
5) The parents admitted they were estranged from the young person the original story was about.
6) The second "young person" was in their 20s and used social media to threaten to expose him. But was apparently shocked at the angry response! What a sheltered, consequence free life they must have led. This person was not a child.
7) The hypocrisy of The Sun, who made their money exploiting the bodies of young people on page 3, is as nauseating as always.
One word. Hillsborough. We know what that unspeakable publication did on that.
There's yet another article in the Guardian today stating that the Edwards' are being "advised" by, wait for it, Andy Coulson!
I don’t care what anyone says, I love Huw Edwards and I hate The Sun and the BBC. The Beeb’s desire to be seen ‘right-on’ and ‘down with the kids’ (that’s what they say, isn’t it?!) disgusts me and has lost me as one of its biggest fans. Also this herd mentality of the British tabloids of bullying usually white men for any discretion, regardless of mental state, is nauseating. I very much doubt, like you, Iain, that Edwards did anything criminal, but that doesn’t stop the mob baying for blood.