Channel 5 has commissioned a controversial two-part television drama that will depict the dramatic downfall of former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards. The series will star acclaimed actor Martin Clunes in the lead role.
From National Trusted Voice to Convicted Offender
The drama will chronicle Edwards's spectacular fall from grace, which culminated in September 2024 when he received a six-month suspended prison sentence. He had pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children, involving photographs of children as young as seven that were sent to him by convicted paedophile Alex Williams.
Edwards, who was the BBC's lead presenter until 2023 and famously announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II to the nation in 2022, saw his four-decade career at the corporation end in disgrace. He had joined the BBC in 1984 and became the main anchor of the Ten O'Clock News in 2003.
Channel 5's "Important and Shocking" Production
Ben Frow, Channel 5's chief content officer, stated the channel ordered the programme to investigate "how a vulnerable 17-year-old was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television". He described it as an "important and shocking story".
The production team was granted exclusive access to The Sun's investigation into Edwards, which first revealed allegations concerning payments to a teenager for sexually explicit images. Channel 5 says the drama will explore the human cost behind the headlines, having spoken to key individuals involved in the case.
The channel confirmed the production has been a year in the making, but has not yet announced a specific broadcast date for the highly sensitive series.
A Track Record of Controversial Content
Television commentator Scott Bryan noted that Channel 5 has a proven strategy of drawing viewers with provocative factual programming. "Channel 5 has a knack for creating highbrow drama, but also documentary and factual series that raise eyebrows and perhaps cause controversy, but will get people tuning in out of intrigue," he said.
This is not the first time the broadcaster has tackled recent current affairs scandals. In 2024, it featured former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield in its Cast Away survival series, following his departure from ITV after he admitted lying about an affair with a younger colleague.
The forthcoming drama promises to chart Edwards's "double life as it spirals out of control", leading to what the channel terms "the greatest announcement of his career – his total exit from public life" following his conviction.
