We’re still suffering, say parents at centre of Huw Edwards scandal as they slam BBC for lack of answers after he quits
THE family at the centre of the Huw Edwards scandal said they were still seeking answers after the star news anchor sensationally quit the BBC.
Holding back tears, the young person’s mum said: “In resigning we are worried we won’t get the answers we so desperately need.”
The move came 55 days after the corporation made a public apology for mishandling a complaint that their star news anchor had paid £35,000 to a youngster who sent him explicit images.
The young person’s mother said: “In resigning we are worried we won’t get the answers we so desperately need.
“If Huw has been found to have done something wrong no action can be taken against him.
“My heart is broken.
“This has been a traumatic time that we feel hasn’t been resolved.
“We just want closure and this doesn’t take us any closer to it.
“We still have so many questions and we need the BBC to answer them.
“This is not the end for us.
“We are also suffering and have been immensely for nearly a year.”
The BBC announced in February it had made an extraordinary apology to the family for not handling their complaint quickly enough following an independent review.
A damning 23-page independent report revealed the original complaint, lodged last May, was not logged – and was “escalated” to senior management only when The Sun got in touch.
The family had turned to us after accusing the BBC of failing to take seriously their concerns over one of its biggest stars.
At the time the mum of the youngster said the report underlined how vital it was to get answers for “everyone’s sake”.
She said: “It has taken nearly a year which has left me broken.
“We have been ripped apart as a family.
“It’s there in black and white – the BBC didn’t even log the complaint or follow it up.
We have been ripped apart as a family
Mum of the youngster
“This is a devastating admission.
“We can only hope this should speed up the process towards the proper conclusions we need.
“We just want to move on knowing what we told the BBC has been properly investigated, whatever that takes.”
Today, she pleaded with the BBC to answer questions about whether the News At Ten presenter, 62, cooperated in their misconduct probe.
She told The Sun: “We feared this would happen.
“We can’t just have none of our questions answered.
“The BBC’s statement said it wants all parties to move on.
“We want that more than anything but how can we?
“I don’t think anyone appreciates the hell we’ve been through.
“He’s walked away but we are still living through this nightmare.
“It’s been a year of pain.
“I just want my family to be reunited and for us all to get closure too.”
The family were sent an email from the BBC on Monday morning with their statement on Edwards.
It added: “Thank you for raising your concerns and participating in our investigation.”
He’s walked away but we are still living through this nightmare
Mum of the youngster
The youngster’s stepdad, who made the original complaint, said he was told Edwards did not receive a pay-off but the matter is now closed.
He said: “I’m furious.
“How can we be left like this.
“We have no closure and no answers.”
“We aren’t accepting that.”
Our story last July 7 came after the complaint about Edwards was lodged at a BBC building on May 18 last year.
The family had been referred to the BBC’s Audience Services Team who sent the case to its Corporate Investigations team.
They begged the corporation to make Edwards “stop sending cash”.
They had discovered that their child had been using the money to fund their spiralling drug use.
Our bombshell story did not name Edwards, who was taken off air, and suspended three days later.
A BBC investigation was launched into their presenter, who announced the death of Queen Elizabeth and led coverage of the King’s Coronation.
Director-general Tim Davie also ordered a review to “assess how some complaints are red-flagged up the organisation”.
Amid the fallout, Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind named the father of five as the figure involved – as the BBC revealed fresh claims.
She also announced that he was receiving hospital treatment for mental health issues.
In the report by auditors Deloitte, which was released in February, it detailed how the family’s complaint was not flagged to senior managers.
It also stated there was “insufficient” documentation of attempts to contact the family.
The BBC have a duty of care to us too
Youngster's family
It revealed: “The case was not logged on the incumbent case management system, meaning there was no opportunity for wider visibility of the case within the BBC.”
BBC group chief operating officer Leigh Tavaziva said: “The report identifies specific process short-comings in the presenter case.
“The initial complaint in this case was not escalated quickly enough to senior management and we’ve apologised to the complainant for this.”
She added: “We are delivering on an action plan with a number of enhancements already in place.”
Edwards was suspended on full pay of £435,000 a year since the investigation began.
The family added: “The BBC have a duty of care to us too.”
The BBC said yesterday it would not “comment on internal processes”.
THE SUN SAYS: BBC’s failures
THE scandal surrounding Huw Edwards began when The Sun was approached by a desperate couple.
They had firm evidence that the star was paying large sums to a vulnerable young person with a drug problem — and receiving explicit pictures.
The parents wanted those payments to stop, but their complaints to the BBC had been ignored.
Two months ago the corporation apologised to the couple for failing to take their allegations seriously until The Sun intervened.
It was a vindication for the parents and for our public interest journalism.
Yesterday, more than nine months after our first report, the BBC announced that Edwards had resigned with immediate effect.
The statement was curt. Observers will note the absence of any warm words or thanks for the presenter’s 40 years of service. Equally noteworthy is that Edwards will get no pay-off.
Shockingly, though, the parents are left without proper answers.
The BBC refuses to say what its internal investigations into the multiple complaints against Edwards found . . . or even if they were properly concluded.
As the young person’s mum says: “We just want closure, and this doesn’t take us any closer to it.”
The BBC failed them at the start of this sorry episode. It is failing them again now.