Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards

He might well be depressed, he got caught out.
Probably a closet homosexual, with a lavender marriage.
A bit arrogant like JS, & thought he could get away it.
To be honest, he has to point, whilst victims are left to suffer.

Depression does not usually cloud someone's moral judgement.

I’m sure that’s right too.

I ll just add as I don’t think some are really getting what I mean

I DO NOT think it’s too soon to have a documentary about this abuse. A factual programme giving all the information from all sides, would I think help any victims, however I do think it’s too soon to have a play written about it because if anything it brings it into the role of make believe, into entertainment, including comments even on here about the actors roles, and their performances.
This is dilution of this awful, crime.

I understand your point BlueBell, particularly the possibility it dilutes his disgusting, damaging crimes
We can disagree on this without rancour I hope

I also understand what you've saying, Bluebelle. I just disagree. I don't think a film such as this is entertainment. We all know what happened - there is no element of 'whodunnit' or anything similar. It is more of a drama documentary, really.

'Ryan', the victim, suffered trial by media - disbelieved, accused of being mercenary etc, and the trial found that this was not the case. He has a right to have his story told, whilst it is still in people's memories. Leaving it for years would only mean that he has to live with the reputational damage until it is too late for it to be meaningfully repaired.

I see your point, Bluebelle but I too disagree, and should just add to what Iam64 and Doodledog have said, that people forget all too easily and that, somehow, his heinous crimes seem to have been diminished for some reason, perhaps because of his fame and reputation as 'the voice of the nation'.

You might not see it as entertainment Doodledog as I don’t either, but many do, even down to commenting on the acting skills of the cast, but where I disagree with the last three people is when Allira says ‘ somehow his hideous crimes have been disminished’ but I think a play about it is doing just that disminishing his acts A documentary would be dealing solely with facts, a play,(a drama, call it what you will) takes in the acting ability, the scenery and the writers skill all outside the actual facts
Anyway I ve said what I feel so I ll leave you all to continue disagreeing with me
No hard feelings we all see things how we see things

Grandmotherto8

Never ever thought Huw Edwards would be such a depraved man. Never.

I was shocked as I did like HE. He did a stellar job of the queen’s funeral. So
disappointed when this came out.
I don’t understand how Rolf Harris got put away & EE more or less got a slap on the wrist.

I mean HUW

BlueBelle

You might not see it as entertainment Doodledog as I don’t either, but many do, even down to commenting on the acting skills of the cast, but where I disagree with the last three people is when Allira says ‘ somehow his hideous crimes have been disminished’ but I think a play about it is doing just that disminishing his acts A documentary would be dealing solely with facts, a play,(a drama, call it what you will) takes in the acting ability, the scenery and the writers skill all outside the actual facts
Anyway I ve said what I feel so I ll leave you all to continue disagreeing with me
No hard feelings we all see things how we see things

where I disagree with the last three people is when Allira says ‘ somehow his hideous crimes have been disminished’ but I think a play about it is doing just that disminishing his acts

I will have to disagree again Bluebelle!

I believe the sentence given somehow made his crimes seem less as, I believe, the sentence he received was not even the minimum for possession of Category A indecent images of children. I may be wrong.
Further charges were not brought in regard to the young lad, Ryan, and his story needs to be told.

Somehow, Edwards crimes have been lessened for whatever reason and I wonder whether he even accepts the enormity of them himself.

We, however, should not forget what this 'worthy, steady voice of the nation', who appeared in our sitting rooms each night, has done especially if he thinks he can make some kind of come-back. It makes him sound delusional.
The other man involved, Alex Williams, also received a suspended sentence. I find it extraordinary.

Yes, I feel sorry for his poor wife and children too, they are also his victims.

Why were some of you shocked? You don't know him. You know the face he presents to the world.

Kate1949

Why were some of you shocked? You don't know him. You know the face he presents to the world.

Yes, we did, but somehow he seemed steady, calm and trustworthy, a voice of calm reporting on the major stories of the day.

It just goes to show, not all look like Jimmy Savile.

Kate1949

Why were some of you shocked? You don't know him. You know the face he presents to the world.

Well, yes. Which is why people were shocked.

It just goes to show that sexual predators come from all walks of life, capable of carrying out evil deeds whilst appearing as a normal, trustworthy person.

Teachers, youth workers, shop keepers, clergymen, scout leaders, nursery workers, entertainers, fathers, brothers, granddads, uncles, and newsreaders ... the list goes on.

The sexual abuse, whether physical or through photographs or filming, is disgusting and affects the victims for life, it's totally despicable to normal people, it's a grubby world which normal people find abhorrent and the most heinous crime of all.

One thing that I took from the recent dramatisation of Huw Edwards is how he was able to present himself to the country, reading the news, and announcing the death of our dear Queen, when all along he was leading a double life, he was a sexual abuser, a paedophile, and a nasty piece of work, a bully.

How he got away with it is a mystery, people are jailed for non payment of fines, fraud, burglary, the sexual abuse of children is a far worse crime, it's unbelievable and frustrating that he is walking free.

The children he abused, directly or indirectly, deserve justice. Imagine if it was your child or grandchild that was abused, no wonder the family of "Ryan" went to the press, they didn't get much support from the police, the BBC turned a blind eye, and without a prison sentence the victims must feel very let down. At least we now know what a sick individual Huw Edwards is and I hope we never see him on our screens again.

Martin Clunes is a top entertainer but I would not find this subject entertaing. Sounds horrific. Just not for me or my ageing mind.

I wonder if Edwards is experiencing abuse outside of his home , he may be free from a prison sentence but he will always be a prisoner . He may live in luxury but step out and reality will always hit him . Yes he did deserve prison we will never know why , no justice for the victims but I hope he sits in sufference

Kate1949

Why were some of you shocked? You don't know him. You know the face he presents to the world.

If you are an older person who was brought up with anologue TV, I think we (possibly) regarded some of these people as almost friends.

I can recall hanging onto every word spoken by Blue Peter presenters for example. My late MiL referred to " Delia" as if she were a family friend.

Something like this just makes me wonder who else is flying under the radar right now, and seeing as a fair few have been working for the BBC perhaps the new head could start by having a zero tolerance attitude towards anyone working for the organisation who has raised red flags with others, no matter how much the offending person is worth when it comes to viewing figures.
All too often it seems complaints have been ignored.

Was it entertainment? I don't know.

I saw it as a well produced and acted representation of the facts, which has more impact than a documentary and hopefully gave those in power reason to think about how they handle such incidents. And also hopefully gave a voice to "Ryan" whose life had been wrecked.

Kate1949

Why were some of you shocked? You don't know him. You know the face he presents to the world.

Because he appeared so upstanding and morally upright, chosen to spearhead events in this country which are supposedly the best we can offer in the way of tradition and values. His very persona exemplified this.

No one was really surprised at the blonde cigar toting, medal wearing eye rolling Saville proving to be unsavoury.

His very persona exemplified this.

Interestingly I never felt that about him, and I do not think this is the benefit of hindsight. He seemed a bit of a lightweight to me and I sometimes wondered why he was picked for these events. Dimbleby was more the ticket.

I'm an old cynic. Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see is my mantra these days. Of course I 'liked' people on TV in the past. I probably still do but always say they 'seem' nice. You live and learn. Most are in it for the money. Edwards has his house up for sale for just under £4m.

I’ve only watched half of it so far, but will watch the rest over the weekend. I’m not sure how I feel about this as entertainment like many of you, although I found it compelling viewing, I’m almost ashamed to say. The programme seemed gratuitous, somehow, but it also gives the viewer an awareness of what can go on behind closed doors. The scene where Edwards was “pleasuring himself” was especially shocking and distasteful. It was extremely well acted and Martin Clunes was very convincing as Edwards. I thought that Edwards as a newsreader/Royal commentator had great gravitas and was highly professional. Rather stern, but with that sense of seriousness and professionalism that befitted his role. He was always immaculately dressed and groomed (not meaning that to sound shallow), but he always looked the part. Just shows you that a person’s private life can be very different. I feel dreadfully sorry for his wife and family and especially for his victims. What a vile, arrogant and controlling man. A man with perverted interests. Not to diminish mental health in any way, maybe the fact that Edwards then sited mental health issues comes about through shame (if he has any) and perhaps a scintilla of guilt. Also the fact that it’s been found out. I never want to see his face on TV again. I wish his family and his victims well, they’ve experienced events that are life-changing.

Toetoe

I wonder if Edwards is experiencing abuse outside of his home , he may be free from a prison sentence but he will always be a prisoner . He may live in luxury but step out and reality will always hit him . Yes he did deserve prison we will never know why , no justice for the victims but I hope he sits in sufference

The abused children will be living in the painful reality of his abuse for the rest of their lives. It’s soul crushing for them. The damage done by this degenerate doesn’t ever go away for them. Edwards, like most predators, will never feel bad enough to seek out the punishment he truly deserves, and I imagine he still prefers his non-imprisonment over actual prison 365 days of the year. He’ll hardly “suffer” even remotely close to the way his victims will, if at all. He is the lowest form of human life and if he doesn’t pay in this life I surely hope he will for an eternity after his life ends.

Luckygirl3

Was it entertainment? I don't know.

I saw it as a well produced and acted representation of the facts, which has more impact than a documentary and hopefully gave those in power reason to think about how they handle such incidents. And also hopefully gave a voice to "Ryan" whose life had been wrecked.

Rather like the drama about the Post Office scandal which made the public aware of what went on because, even though these events are publicised, presenting these scandals as drama/documentary concentrates the mind on what happened.