Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards

I don't know really how I feel, but I am left with this one thought - in spite of the fact that Edwards appears to have had a monstrous childhood (and I'm not dismissive of the effects that might have had on him) - he still had choices, and he chose sexual gratification

It does not sound as if he had that monstrous a childhood in comparison to many people ad thry did not become paedophiles.

A father who was cold, distant and perhaps belittled him?
I have not seen it reported that his father abused him either physically or sexually.

As Galaxy says
Yeah it was his father fault, his wife's fault, these men are as predictable as they are horrific.

The judge was unduly lenient for some reason and seemed to make excuses for Edwards. 🤔

Yeah it was his father fault, his wife's fault, these men are as predictable as they are horrific.

every photo of such photographs

every child portrayed in such photographs

CocoPops

His career is washed up. The sentencing judge took that into account. He's on the sex register for another 5 1/2 years. His marriage is washed up. We don't know if he has a relationship with any of his 5 children. It's possible the drama will tip him right over the edge.

I am more concerned about his victims.

Not just the victim we know about, every photo of such photographs is of a victim of child sex abuse too.

His career is washed up. The sentencing judge took that into account. He's on the sex register for another 5 1/2 years. His marriage is washed up. We don't know if he has a relationship with any of his 5 children. It's possible the drama will tip him right over the edge.

I am heartily sick of the way it appears that society in general, and women in particular, have to adjust to / tolerate / forgive or 'manage' men's sexual transgressions. Especially when they involve the sharing of pornographic images of very young children

Hear, hear.
As you say, Edwards had choices and was also in a position of privilege and power which IMO he abused.

Sarnia

Thanks for taking the time to give that information, I appreciate it.

I'm conflicted about Edwards. I agree he has the right to publicly give his side/explanation/'interpretation' of the path he chose to go down, but I also believe that honest, objective, self-awareness, is probably extremely difficult - even for most stable and rational people, so I'm not sure how wise it is to 'go public', especially given the general public's apparent increasing scepticism about mental health as an explanation (or part-explanation?) for such behaviour.

If he is going to attempt to relaunch his career on the back of the mea culpa I think he might have hugely misjudged the public's 'graciousness' towards individuals in high-profile positions suspected or charged with the abuse of children and young adults, given what has come out of the Epstein files (and what may still be sitting around in said files - even if the legacy media has lost interest in that matter).

I don't know really how I feel, but I am left with this one thought - in spite of the fact that Edwards appears to have had a monstrous childhood (and I'm not dismissive of the effects that might have had on him) - he still had choices, and he chose sexual gratification. It might be my strong antipathy towards the patriarchy but I am heartily sick of the way it appears that society in general, and women in particular, have to adjust to / tolerate / forgive or 'manage' men's sexual transgressions. Especially when they involve the sharing of pornographic images of very young children.

Cocopops
Perhaps some might feel that justice has not been done and are surprised that Edwards shows more pity for himself than his victims, especially if he might feel justified in resurrecting some kind of career in media.

I think I am in the minority here. I have not watched the drama but read lots of reviews. Is this distateful stuff really what people want to watch?
The drama was made for entertainment and provided a platform for Martin Clunes to further his reputation as a very good actor.
Huw Edwards was convicted and sentenced in Sept, 2024. Surely people remember all the publicity then.
Is it wrong for Channel 5 and Martin Clunes to make and profit from such a sordid story? I think so.

I just couldn't watch it as imagining what might have been revealed turned my stomach, that poor little soul.

Norah

Anniebach

Thoughts posted on this thread shows knowledge of mental illness is no different to the 50’s, “ what has he got to be depressed about “ ,
Even criticism of a man who may have struggled with depression for years

I've not read criticism of his MH struggles.

Edwards as a sex offender, is point to discussion, imo.

Two different points, yes. .

His depression may be a result but not a causative factor, I would think. Research is still undergoing. Many people suffer with depression and do not turn to paedophilia. The converse is true, too. Many paedophiles do not suffer from depression.

Anniebach

Thoughts posted on this thread shows knowledge of mental illness is no different to the 50’s, “ what has he got to be depressed about “ ,
Even criticism of a man who may have struggled with depression for years

I've not read criticism of his MH struggles.

Edwards as a sex offender, is point to discussion, imo.

Anniebach

Thoughts posted on this thread shows knowledge of mental illness is no different to the 50’s, “ what has he got to be depressed about “ ,
Even criticism of a man who may have struggled with depression for years

Who has said that?

We can't know what goes on in other people's minds. What has been said is that MH issues do not excuse sex abuse, and that he could afford to pay for help. Are you suggesting that he didn't know that his urges were wrong?

I have read the whole thread, and if there are any posts saying 'what does he have to be depressed about?' I must have missed them.

Anniebach

Thoughts posted on this thread shows knowledge of mental illness is no different to the 50’s, “ what has he got to be depressed about “ ,
Even criticism of a man who may have struggled with depression for years

I don't doubt he has mental health issue but even people with health issues know right from wrong. Had he not had that capacity, his defence would have made much of that lack of capacity.

Kate1949

*Annie*. I know you have experience if this sadly. I have been to hell in a handcart with my mental health and my own brother didn't survive his trauma. I certainly don't judge all mental illness this way. However, I do believe in some cases it is a bandwagon, an excuse after being caught out. I don't believe for one minute that HE' s behaviour was due to an illness. Just my opinion.

Quite agree. We may be unwell but we do not lose our sense of morality.

Thoughts posted on this thread shows knowledge of mental illness is no different to the 50’s, “ what has he got to be depressed about “ ,
Even criticism of a man who may have struggled with depression for years

Kate1949

Thank you Annie. I know what you've been through also.

🥀🥀

TheSunRisesInTheEast

I'm incensed that mental illness is being used for excusing this monster's behaviour. You don't suddenly become a sexual predator and put another human being, who was obviously a very troubled lad, through such a disgusting and depraved experience. Thankfully, apart from the cringeworthy moment when Huw Edwards was pleasuring himself at his computer, we were spared the other details, but you can only imagine what that lad went through.

He had an unhappy home life, with a bully of a stepfather, and he was looking for kindness, love and affection. Unfortunately he got Huw Edwards who bullied him and abused him even further.

I can't imagine that anyone would want to hear his side of the sordid story. He needs to disappear from the public eye and keep his grubby excuses to himself. His wife was quick to divorce him, his children must be mortified by their shameful father, he should be thankful not to be locked up in prison, and just shut up 🤐.

👏👏👏👏👏

Thank you Annie. I know what you've been through also.

TheSunRisesInTheEast

I'm incensed that mental illness is being used for excusing this monster's behaviour. You don't suddenly become a sexual predator and put another human being, who was obviously a very troubled lad, through such a disgusting and depraved experience. Thankfully, apart from the cringeworthy moment when Huw Edwards was pleasuring himself at his computer, we were spared the other details, but you can only imagine what that lad went through.

He had an unhappy home life, with a bully of a stepfather, and he was looking for kindness, love and affection. Unfortunately he got Huw Edwards who bullied him and abused him even further.

I can't imagine that anyone would want to hear his side of the sordid story. He needs to disappear from the public eye and keep his grubby excuses to himself. His wife was quick to divorce him, his children must be mortified by their shameful father, he should be thankful not to be locked up in prison, and just shut up 🤐.

Spot on ^

It is of course very plausible that HE suffers from depression, either previously or as a reaction to the chaos that descended on him when his actions were disclosed and made public. And it sounds as though he is receiving treatment for this which is as it should be.

I too, like many others, have had a depressive episode in my life and know how difficult this can be.

The question of course is whether his depression could have triggered his grossly unacceptable behaviours and in any way is an explanation or excuse.

People who are psychotic can behave in unacceptable, irrational and sometimes dangerous ways - this is well known. But depression does not normally cause this and these sort of behaviours manifest in a totally different way during a flare up of psychosis. In depression they do not cause the systematic long term behaviour of child abuse, exploitation and dishonesty and it is hard on those suffering depression to have this implied at all.

HE may have been suffering depression, perhaps triggered by closet homosexuality, but it is not an excuse for his behaviour.

I think the mental health defence might get more sympathy if it were applied to 'ordinary' people as much as to those in positions of power and influence. IMO, people in those positions should be held to higher standards because of the possibility that they will use their position to influence others. Teachers, for example, are expected to abide by strict rules when it comes to behaviour around young people, and I think that should apply to celebrities too.

I realise it's complex, but if someone on HE's salary has MH problems they can pay for help to control their urges. Also, high profile employees can often negotiate a sabbatical so they don't have the pressures of work on top of their problems. It's very different for those on minimum wage in insecure work, but the impression is that they would be left to their own devices and treated much more harshly by the law. That, plus the fact that celebrity status often protects people (see also Jimmy Saville, Rolf Harris etc) and gets them access to people who trust them because they feel as though they know them, makes the whole situation more difficult.

Kate thank you, I did remember the pain mental illness caused you and I am so sorry. I don’t know if HE had a mental illness, his wife said he did, some illnesses can take years to develop, this is a fact

Annie. I know you have experience if this sadly. I have been to hell in a handcart with my mental health and my own brother didn't survive his trauma. I certainly don't judge all mental illness this way. However, I do believe in some cases it is a bandwagon, an excuse after being caught out. I don't believe for one minute that HE' s behaviour was due to an illness. Just my opinion.

I haven't watched it and have no intention to do so. It just seems wrong. 😔