Huw Edwards’ good friend says claims in opposition to ‘very susceptible’ presenter are ‘in opposition to every part I do know concerning the man’

A good friend of Huw Edwards has mentioned he initially didn’t consider the claims concerning the BBC presenter as a result of they had been “against everything I know about the man”.

Andrew Billen, a characteristic author for The Times, had lunch with Edwards final Thursday – hours earlier than the newsreader was knowledgeable of the allegations in opposition to him.

Mr Billen informed Sky News the 61-year-old TV persona was “in high spirits” through the meal and was “certainly not a man with a tremendous dark cloud hanging over him”.

Discussing the allegations, he mentioned: “Personally speaking I was incredibly shocked. It flew against everything I thought I knew about the man.

“I did not consider it partly as a result of I did not need to consider it.”

Sky News understands earlier than The Sun’s unique story on Edwards was revealed, Newsnight journalists had been trying into allegations in opposition to the presenter.

These soundings resulted in a narrative broadcast on Wednesday evening, simply after Edwards was named by his wife because the BBC star on the centre of the allegations.

Newsnight included claims from two present colleagues and one former BBC employees member they’d acquired inappropriate messages from the presenter.

‘An HR matter’

Asked concerning the additional allegations, Mr Billen mentioned: “I’d have thought this could well have been an HR matter, rather than a matter for an investigation.”

He added: “I was surprised last night that Newsnight continued to investigate, especially given the fact we know that he was in hospital… but I understand it from the BBC’s point of view.

“If they zealously go after different public figures who dedicated some sort of wrongdoing, to be seen to be unbiased, they need to do the identical with their very own.”

The BBC is currently conducting “fact-finding investigations” into allegations against the veteran broadcaster.

Edwards’ wife said in a statement her husband was “affected by critical psychological well being points” and was receiving in-patient hospital care.

The Metropolitan Police has said no criminal offence has been committed by Edwards and no further police action will be taken “presently”, permitting an inside BBC investigation to renew.

Read extra:
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What friends and colleagues have said about Huw Edwards
The Sun says it has dossier of ‘serious’ claims but has ‘no plans’ to publish
Was The Sun right to publish allegations about BBC presenter?

A manner again for presenter?

Asked if there was a manner again for Edwards, Mr Billen mentioned: “I’d love to think he would be behind that desk again in a few weeks or months and presenting the election night, but I somehow doubt it.

“I actually hope he could have a profession in broadcasting past this… And if not that then perhaps a job in academia.

“But he’s got to get past what is clearly a severe mental breakdown at the moment.”

He added: “You can be a very highly paid and very famous and very respected television presenter and be a vulnerable person too. I think we have found that poor Huw is very vulnerable.”

Mr Billen mentioned he had interviewed Edwards twice and met with him socially for “two long lunches”. He mentioned at their final lunch he and Edwards had “talked about going for a walk later this summer along the south Wales coast – which he absolutely adores”.

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Poll: Majority of public consider media spent too lengthy on story

It comes as a ballot for YouGov discovered the vast majority of individuals (60%) consider the media has spent an excessive amount of time on the BBC story.

However, the ballot prompt the general public was break up on whether or not the media was proper or mistaken to do the story in any respect.