Disgraced broadcaster Huw Edwards has joined Substack in the wake of his conviction for making indecent images of children.
On Wednesday, the former BBC newsreader, 64, launched his page on the subscription-based platform, on which he revealed he would ‘offer thoughts on matters of national and local interest’ and ‘address mental health’.
Once one of the BBC’s most trusted and highest-paid stars, Huw pleaded guilty in July 2024 and was handed a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, and placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Despite his downfall, there has been talk of a comeback for the star after a Channel 5 show starring Martin Clunes dramatised his crimes, leading to reports that he planning his own documentary or podcast series.
His Substack, which he said has ‘no plans for paid subscriptions’, looks to be the first steps to a comeback, as he vowed to discuss journalism while also stating: ‘I am also ready to be unflinchingly honest about the reality of long-term mental illness’.
Disgraced broadcaster Huw Edwards has joined Substack in the wake of his conviction for making indecent images of children (pictured in his mugshot in September 2024)
The disgraced star has added a jaunty font with his name across the top of his unpaid subscription page
Huw was given his six-month suspended jail sentence following a year of headlines, which began when he was named as the presenter at the heart of a scandal over payments to a young person for sexually explicit images.
Police discovered he was giving the victim gifts and money, and that within their chat there were numerous sexually explicit images, including 41 indecent images of children as young as seven years old.
These included both still and moving images, and were made up of seven of the most serious Category A, 12 Category B and 22 Category C.
Huw’s return to the world of journalism comes just two months before the end of his suspended prison sentence.
In the opening section of the introduction, entitled Restart ≠ Relauch, he wrote: ‘After four decades years in broadcast journalism — with a focus on Welsh, British and French politics — I am still a keen observer of events….
‘There will be some who do not wish to read my work, and I respect that choice. But for those who might be interested, I would like to start tentatively by offering some commentary and analysis based on my long experience.’
Under the subheading ‘Why this, why now?’, he wrote: ‘Three years have gone by since my last broadcast. One of the ways in which I can try to make a positive contribution — not just in current affairs and cultural analysis…
Once one of the BBC’s most trusted and highest-paid stars, Huw pleaded guilty in July 2024 and was handed a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, and placed on the sex offenders register for seven years (Huw is pictured announcing the Queen’s death in 2022)
Despite his downfall, there has been talk of a comeback for the star after a Channel 5 show starring Martin Clunes dramatised his crimes, leading to reports that he planning his own documentary or podcast series (Martin Clunes pictured in his critically-acclaimed role)
‘But also in the areas of mental health, overcoming trauma, and attempting to rebuild some kind of worthwhile life — is to share those thoughts with those who wish to hear them.’
Huw paid heavy nods to the mental health aspect of his posts, although jarringly failed to address his convictions or victim.
On the ‘Why here?’ section, he wrote: ‘I was an early subscriber to Substack. The platform promotes serious debate and analysis. In my case, I would like to offer thoughts on matters of national and local interest…
‘These include the state of our politics, the media, journalism, and culture. But in light of my recent experiences, I would also like to talk about the criminal justice system: the courts, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Probation Service…
‘I am also ready to be unflinchingly honest about the reality of long-term mental illness, and the continued failure to recognise its devastating effects on affected individuals, their families and friends…
‘If my posts help others facing similar challenges, so much the better.’
