The BBC has re-released an episode of Doctor Who featuring disgraced news anchor Huw Edwards although they have carefully scrubbed him from the episode
A Doctor Who episode featuring Huw Edwards has been re-uploaded.
The episode which originally aired in 2006 was yanked from BBC iPlayer following the scandal surrounding Edwards. In the episode which is now available to watch, Billie Piper played the Doctor’s (David Tennant) companion watching a news report from her home when she saw a man falling over while carrying the Olympic Torch after London won the bid to host the 2012 games.
David’s portrayal of The Doctor was forced to intervene and carry on running with the torch. Meanwhile, Edwards was heard commenting on the incident. Edwards voice punctuates the episode, initially announcing the progress of the Olympic torchbearers and later forming the backdrop for the opening ceremony by remarking, “athletes from all over the world are streaming into the stadium”.
This, has now been wiped from the episode. Instead, his live commentary is played out by Becky Wright, who has previously provided the voice for Doctor Who’s audio and podcast service. Becky’s addition is almost an exact copy of Edwards’ script but has had some minor tweaks. He’s also been axed from the final credits of the episode. The BBC were believed to be reviewing archival footage involving Huw, including his coverage of the late Queen Elizabeth’s death.
Edwards offered ‘live commentary’ during the scene
A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: “As you would expect we are actively considering the availability of our archive. While we don’t routinely delete content from the BBC archive as it is a matter of historical record, we do consider the continued use and re-use of material on a case-by-case basis.”
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Last year, the disgraced BBC newsreader, 63, was given six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to having made indecent images of children. The sentence came after father-of-five was arrested in November 2023 following the findings of South Wales Police that he had been involved in a sick WhatsApp conversation with convicted paedophile Alex Williams, 25.
The felon was said to have sent Edwards 41 images of child abuse between December 2020 and August 2021. Seven of the indecent images were Category A, which is the worst category of its kind. He also had a requirement to complete a sex offender programme. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring also declined to make him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, saying he “did not pose a risk to the public”. He said, however, that Edwards would be on the Sexual Offenders’ Register for seven years.
Mr Goldspring told the ex-News at Ten presenter: “The impact of child sexual abuse can be severe and lifelong.” He then told Edwards his “reputation is in tatters,” while starting his sentencing remarks. Mr Goldspring said: “Perhaps it does not need saying that you are of previous good character having enjoyed a very successful career in the media You were highly regarded for your dedication and professionalism, perhaps the most recognised journalist in the UK. Your reputation is in tatters.”
As well as the way the criminal justice system treats paedophiles in the UK, Edwards was spared jail time due to his previous good character and concern over his mental health behind bars, as it placed him as a “vulnerable” inmate. The court was told he had been an inpatient at the Nightingale Hospital mental health clinic in London since his July guilty pleas.
