Huw Edwards scandal: BBC ‘in contact’ with household of particular person at centre of specific pictures allegations – company boss Tim Davie

BBC boss Tim Davie says the company has been in contact with the household of an individual on the centre of allegations surrounding Huw Edwards.

Speaking at a pre-arranged Lords Communications Committee session on Tuesday, the director-general mentioned: “We have been in touch with the complainant, we want to be engaged and appropriately listening and understanding their concern,” after earlier accusations it didn’t reply rapidly to complaints from the household of the younger particular person.

Mr Davie was additionally requested about holding the BBC’s high-paid expertise to account, responding: “I think the the history of this industry is such that we should all be concerned and appropriately diligent around the abuse of people in powerful positions”.

He went on to say he was “proud” of the firms code of conduct and values, calling the whistleblowing course of by which workers can confidentially report considerations to an exterior assist at work line “a safe place”.

He confirmed to friends that high-profile presenters on the company have a clause of their contract about not bringing the BBC into disrepute.

Mr Edwards – who’s the BBC’s highest earning newsreader – was accused of paying an adolescent hundreds of kilos for sexually specific pictures.

The household of the younger particular person had initially complained to the BBC in May, however allegations were not put to the presenter, or flagged to senior executives – together with Mr Davie – till seven weeks later.

Mr Davie, together with appearing chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and coverage director Clare Sumner, confronted questions in regards to the “adequacy” of the company’s governance preparations and was requested to present updates on the progress of two studies, following the controversy.

The BBC is finishing up “fact-finding investigations” into Edwards, in addition to a overview to “assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation”.

Allegations the news anchor paid an adolescent greater than £35,000 for sexually specific pictures had been first printed in The Sun on Friday 7 July. The paper didn’t identify him on the time.

Five days later, the Metropolitan Police said they did not believe any criminal activity had taken place and could be taking no additional motion.

Following intense hypothesis over the id of the BBC presenter, Edwards’ spouse, Vicky Flind, confirmed him as the man at the centre of the allegations.

In a press release, she mentioned he was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was “receiving in-patient hospital care”.

The Sun – who say they by no means alleged criminality – say they don’t have any plans to publish additional allegations towards Edwards.

Edwards, who has since been suspended, can be going through separate allegations from a number of different folks of their early 20s.

Read extra:
Who is Huw Edwards?
Was The Sun right to publish allegations?
What friends and colleagues have said about Huw Edwards

As the face of BBC News At 10, the 61-year-old has beforehand led election evening protection, and broke the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s dying. He was final on air on Wednesday 5 July, protecting King Charles’ go to to Scotland.

The younger particular person on the centre of the controversy has since mentioned – through their lawyer – that their mom’s claims are “rubbish,” and that “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” had taken place.

At the weekend, Sir Tony Blair instructed Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the BBC ought to “stand up for itself more” when requested about its response to the state of affairs.

Some have questioned The Sun’s choice to publish the unique story, and the stability between publishing within the public curiosity versus the fitting to privateness has been thrust firmly into the highlight.