The shocking scandal involving former BBC newscaster Huw Edwards, one of the most high-profile figures in British television and on Britain’s sex offenders register after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children in 2024, will be made into a TV drama.
“Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards” (tentative title) has been ordered by Paramount’s UK Network 5 and will be produced by Wonderhood Studios.
The two-part true-life drama, which has been a year in the making, will examine “how a vulnerable 17-year-old was raised to become one of the most powerful people on television,” according to producers, and will star Martin Clunes (“Doc Martin,” “Out There”) as Edwards. The series will explore “the double life of a newsreader who spirals out of control and ends up retiring from public life for good after making the biggest announcement of his career: being convicted of serious child sex offences.”
It was in July 2023 that Edward’s secrets began to rapidly unravel after national newspapers reported that the “BBC’s top star” had “paid teenagers for sexual photographs”. As it turned out, that star was Edwards. He was one of the most recognizable faces on British television and the man who made the historic declaration that Queen Elizabeth II had died. He solicited sexually explicit photos from young men online and formed a friendship with a man who sent messages containing images of child abuse. Following a police investigation, he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children at Westminster Magistrates Court.
‘Power: The Fall of Huw Edwards’ is built on the past 12 months of fact-finding, including direct interviews and collaboration from those at the center of the scandal and exclusive access to The Sun’s award-winning Edwards investigation.
Ben Flo, chief content officer at 5, said: “This is an important and shocking story about how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed his position. With exclusive access to the key people involved and those who investigated this story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines. As a close collaboration between 5’s fact and script teams, this is a first for the channel.”
David Abraham, Founder and Group CEO of Wonderhood Studios, added: “This project marks our first step into Wonderhood drama and builds on our track record of producing premium documentaries about important and challenging subjects.”
Power: The Fall of Huw Edwards is a production of Wonderhood Studios, commissioned by Guy Davies (Commissioning Editor, 5) and Paul Tester (Commissioning Editor, Screenplay, 5) and co-produced with show financier Klempelwood. The series is directed by BAFTA and Emmy Award winner Michael Samuels (The Windermere Children, Any Human Heart) and written by Mark Burtt (The Trial). The film will be produced by Angie Daniel (Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, The Vigil), casting director Jenny Duffy, de facto producer Louise Kentleton, and production director Leanne Hickey. Executive producers are BAFTA winners Samantha Anstice and Tom Garton.
