Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards

Anniebach

HE did not employ a publicist

I don't think anybody is saying he did. Barry Tomes happens to be a publicist who was discussing future developments with HE. Tomes made it very clear he was unpaid.

Huw Edwards is a broken man now. Yes he probably has a couple of million in the bank and could probably emigrate, but his past will always haunt him. No broadcaster will ever employ Edwards again, he is despised for his crimes and probably has no friends. He let everyone down who respected him as the best broadcaster of his generation.

HE did not employ a publicist

Since this programme aired, Barry Tomes, who was Huw Edwards publicist has stepped back. Surely, even those who support HE, must have a point where they don't want to be associated with him.

I don’t know whether the boys/young men before Ryan were aged 17, like him so no obvious ‘crime’ being committed. It has echo’s of Epstein’s victims, the girls in our organised child sexual abuse groups. Historically, police, other agencies and cps have struggled to investigate . Edwards was convicted of three counts of making indecent images of children. Six months heap suspended and seven years of the sex offenders register. So no prosecution for his dreadful exploitation of a vulnerable, immature 17 year old. The drama suggests Ryan was protective towards HE

The Sun's prior knowledge was I felt concerning. I can understand why they did not publish immediately for fear of being sued; but if they had any inkling that this was going on they should have gone to the police so that it could have been properly investigated sooner.

I watched the programme last night. As others have said, it’s not an easy watch.

It indicates the Sun newspaper had been aware of HEs involvement with young men for some years before the parents in this case approached them.

Mrs E is like every woman in her situation, probably beating herself up for not knowing

Heavens - please do not apportion blame to his wife or family. They have been through so much.

It’s unfair imo to suggest HE’s wife shares some responsibility and must have known.

I agree.

I'm amazed that Edwards's guilt is being diluted by assumptions being made about his wife and family being in the know about his crimes.

It’s unfair imo to suggest HE’s wife shares some responsibility and must have known.

Men like him are highly skilled at keeping parts of their lives separate. An apparently happy family in our circle was blown apart when dad was found to have another happy family living fifty miles away. Neither wife had any idea and are dealing with children discovering half siblings.

I think that’s a big bit unrealistic Annie I think we d all imagine we’d know what our partner was doing but believe me we definitely do not.
At my father in-laws funeral my mum in law wondered who the people were on the opposite side of the church appears he had a whole other family, she had no idea about.

Thank you. I didn’t watch the drama, didn’t stick to facts did it?

Anniebach

Quote Basgetti Wed 01-Apr-26 22:17:15
My husband and I have been together for 37 years, married for 36.
If he had been engaging with young boys for at least 20 of those years, I’m certain I would know about it.

HE was engaging with young boys for at least 20 years?
Sorry. Realise that won’t necessarily land well. But I just would

That’s only what I picked up from his comments during the drama.

Quote Basgetti Wed 01-Apr-26 22:17:15
My husband and I have been together for 37 years, married for 36.
If he had been engaging with young boys for at least 20 of those years, I’m certain I would know about it.

HE was engaging with young boys for at least 20 years?
Sorry. Realise that won’t necessarily land well. But I just would

MollyNew

Basgetti

Sorry. Realise that won’t necessarily land well. But I just would.

You may well do, but these types of offenders, male or female, are notoriously secretive and manipulative. That's how they get away with it for so long. Many partners would be oblivious because there are often no signs.

They won't have been living in a small house. His ome is more like a small mansion.
He probably had his large study where he'd shut himself away to do 'essential work'.

I don't think we should even begin to blame his wife and children.

Basgetti

Sorry. Realise that won’t necessarily land well. But I just would.

You may well do, but these types of offenders, male or female, are notoriously secretive and manipulative. That's how they get away with it for so long. Many partners would be oblivious because there are often no signs.

Sorry. Realise that won’t necessarily land well. But I just would.

My husband and I have been together for 37 years, married for 36.
If he had been engaging with young boys for at least 20 of those years, I’m certain I would know about it.

I do feel for Huw Edwards children and his wife and family, do not think it should have been made.

Huw Edwards will never be seen on television again. No one will want to work with him and his career, which was one of the most successful in television, is over.

It seems to be generally accepted that sexuality is something we are born with. Being gay is thankfully, no longer a crime in the uk.

Sexual attraction to children is a perversion that is seen and treated rightly as a criminal offence. Therapy is available. In the course of my work, I met one man who actively sought help because he did not want to act on his feelings. How successful therapy is remains unclear. For men who are brave enough to seek support, there may be hope. For men who justify their behaviour, it’s unlikely. Paedophiles can describe five year olds as seductive. They can claim to be in a love affair with an eight year old boy.

Research on success is limited,

The fact of this programme has opened debate and increased awareness .... we are here talking about it.
I belive that awareness and debate to be a good thing countering the secrecy that surrounds this, leading to disbelief and then the disinclination of authorities to take accusations seriously and take action.

How much training magistrates and judges receive in relation to child sexual abuse is clearly insufficient if someone downloading category A images recieved a suspended sentence. One might argue that his mental health problems were taken into account, but in reality a large proportion of the prison population has mental health or addiction problems which do not prevent them receiving a custodial sentence.

If we were talking about ‘Huw Edwards The Musical’ or something similar I would understand the ‘entertainment’ comments better; but tv also informs and educates, and that’s what I got from watching it.

I now understand more about what happened, which was not discussed at the time. There were a lot of accusations against ‘Ryan’, and a lot of other celebrities accused of being the perpetrator of the abuse, but the victim was protected (rightly) and the story wasn’t told.

As I’ve said, I think the programme was flawed - it is too long, and IMO doesn’t tell the whole story. But it isn’t entertainment in a meaningful sense.

I too agree