Just as the BBC was hoping to turn the page on a bruising period filled with controversy, a fresh development has dragged one of its darkest chapters back into the spotlight.
Channel 5 has announced a new drama centred on the downfall of disgraced former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, ensuring the corporation’s troubles remain part of the public conversation as the year begins.
Channel 5 Greenlights Drama on Huw Edwards
The two-part factual drama, titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, will star Doc Martin actor Martin Clunes, 64, who takes on the role of the once-revered Welsh broadcaster.
The project explores how Edwards, formerly one of Britain’s most trusted news voices, led a secret life that ultimately destroyed his career and reputation.
Edwards, who earned £475,000 a year during his time at the BBC, was suspended in July 2023.
His fall was sealed in September 2024 when he received a six-month suspended sentence after being convicted of making indecent images of children.
A Story Focused on Grooming and Betrayal of Trust
According to Channel 5, the drama concentrates on Edwards’ grooming of a vulnerable 17-year-old boy over several months, alongside his online relationship with a paedophile who shared child abuse images with him.
Rather than spotlighting BBC executives, the production reportedly zeroes in on the personal actions and choices that led to Edwards’ disgrace.
Filming has already wrapped, and the drama is currently in post-production.
While no official broadcast date has been confirmed, it is expected to air sometime in the spring.
Unease Inside the BBC Over the Timing
Behind the scenes, the announcement has reportedly caused discomfort within the BBC.
One insider described the timing as particularly painful, coming so soon after a year that saw multiple scandals rock the organisation.
According to the source, many within the corporation are eager to move on, fearing that the drama will reopen wounds and reignite public scrutiny of an episode they would rather forget.
Leadership Fallout and Old Associations Resurface
The drama’s arrival also coincides with leadership turbulence at the BBC.
Former director-general Tim Davie resigned in November following the fallout from doctored Panorama footage involving Donald Trump.
Davie had previously labelled Edwards’ crimes as “appalling” and acknowledged that the BBC failed to escalate the initial grooming complaint quickly enough in 2023.
The situation is said to be especially awkward for Jonathan Munro, the interim head of BBC News, who took over after Deborah Turness stepped down.
Munro was reportedly close to Edwards before the scandal and had to recuse himself from editorial decisions relating to coverage of the case.
What Viewers Can Expect From the Drama
Channel 5 says the project is built on extensive factual research carried out over the past year, including first-hand interviews and cooperation from individuals closely connected to the scandal.
The broadcaster describes the drama as an unflinching and emotionally layered portrayal of how abuse of power can unravel even the most respected public figures.
Ben Frow, Channel 5’s Chief Content Officer, called the story both important and shocking, stressing that the drama explores the human cost behind the headlines.
Wonderhood Studios founder David Abraham added that the project marks the company’s first move into drama, using the format to uncover deeper psychological truths.
More Pressure Mounts on the BBC
All of this comes at a sensitive moment for the BBC.
The corporation is currently facing a $10 billion lawsuit from the US president over the doctored Panorama footage, while the UK government is preparing to publish a spring white paper outlining the future of the BBC licence fee.
What Comes Next?
With another high-profile drama set to revisit a painful scandal, legal battles unfolding, and questions looming over its funding model, the BBC appears far from a fresh start.
Instead, the months ahead look set to test the corporation’s resilience — and its ability to rebuild public trust — once again.
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