Martin Clunes Describes 'Chilling' Archive Footage of Disgraced Huw Edwards
Martin Clunes has shared a haunting moment from archive footage of disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards that sent shivers down his spine in retrospect. The 64-year-old actor is portraying Edwards, also 64, in a new Channel 5 factual drama titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, which chronicles the collapse of the once-revered news host's career spanning four decades at the national broadcaster.
The Downfall of a News Icon
Huw Edwards was a familiar face covering major national events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, until his arrest in September 2023. This followed months of speculation after police uncovered his WhatsApp exchanges with convicted paedophile Alex Williams. Edwards was subsequently suspended by the BBC and resigned in April 2024. In September 2024, he received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, and was registered as a sex offender.
The Channel 5 dramatisation is based on interviews with Ryan Davies, a pseudonym for the groomed teenager who was in contact with Edwards via WhatsApp, Instagram, and FaceTime. The show aims to investigate the newsreader's double life as it spiralled out of control, culminating in his public exit following the conviction for serious child sexual offences.
Clunes' Preparation and Insights
In preparing for the role, Clunes explained that he viewed archive footage of Edwards outside the newsroom to capture his off-duty persona. 'We've seen that Huw Edwards,' the Doc Martin star told The Times, 'so I watched little snippets of him at awards ceremonies or when he was off duty, to see how he rolled. He's a tiny bit more Welsh when he's not reading the news.'
This research led to a particularly unsettling discovery. 'One of the archive bits I watched was an outside broadcast. He's outside Number 10 at night in a coat, and he's just texting, waiting to go live, which I found chilling in light of what we know,' Clunes shared, highlighting the eerie foreshadowing of Edwards' later crimes.
Clunes also reached out to former colleagues of Edwards to gauge his impression on others, though he remained discreet. 'I don't want to be drawn into slagging Huw Edwards off, because I don't see that as my role. But I didn't hear any compliments,' he coyly noted.
Cast and Production Details
The drama features a strong supporting cast, including Welsh actor Osian Morgan as the teenager at the centre of the allegations, Ben Bishop as The Sun's news editor Ben O'Driscoll, and Claire Calbraith as Editor Victoria Newton, who first broke the story. Chanel Cresswell, known for roles in Trollied and This Is England, will play reporter Scarlet Howes.
New trailers and first-look photos have showcased Clunes' remarkable transformation into Edwards, adding to the anticipation for the series. Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is set to air on March 24 at 9pm on Channel 5, promising a gripping exploration of a high-profile media scandal.
