A former senior BBC figure has issued a stark warning to Channel 5 over its planned drama depicting the downfall of disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards, calling the project "very risky".
Mosey's Legal Warning for Channel 5
Roger Mosey, who led BBC TV News until 2013, has publicly cautioned the broadcaster about its upcoming two-part series. The drama, with the working title Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, will feature Martin Clunes in the lead role. Mosey suggested the programme "will rapidly run into legal problems".
Speaking to Times Radio presenters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover, Mosey stated that a dramatic retelling was not his preferred method for examining the case. "Dramas involving living people are always very risky," he explained. He advocated instead for a documentary format, which he viewed as a "completely legitimate" right to investigate.
The Controversial Subject Matter
The series promises to explore how "a vulnerable 17-year-old was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television". Channel 5 has stated it will investigate the presenter's "double life" and his eventual "total exit from public life following his conviction for serious child sexual offences".
Edwards was a cornerstone of BBC news for two decades, famously announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II to the nation. However, in 2023, his career collapsed. He was suspended and later pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, including a child aged seven, and receiving illegal images via WhatsApp.
The 64-year-old received a six-month suspended jail sentence and was placed on the sex offenders' register.
Why a Drama Poses a Problem
Mosey drew a parallel with other biographical dramas to illustrate his point. He referenced a film about Richard III starring Steve Coogan, noting that "once you start doing a narrative in a movie of good guys and bad guys... you can run into legal problems really very, very rapidly".
His central argument is that fictionalised portrayals of real, living individuals who have been convicted of crimes open producers to significant legal challenges, whereas a factual documentary approach carries less risk.
Channel 5 has released first-look images of Martin Clunes transformed into Edwards, signalling the production is advancing. The broadcaster has been contacted for comment regarding Mosey's warnings.
