BBC host awkwardly apologises after accidentally airing Huw Edwards clip

BBC Breakfast’s Ben Thompson apologised after an old clip showing Huw Edwards was accidentally used.

Thompson and co-host Naga Munchetty were on the couch for today’s (23 September) episode of the morning news show.

During the show, Thompson introduced the new instalment of Newswatch - but rather than a new clip being broadcast ‘technical gremlins’ resulted in an old one, featuring Edwards, being aired instead.

The clip, which was presented by Samira Ahmed and is believed to be from 2017, showed Ahmed passing over to Edwards who began to talk about Hurricane Maria, at which point the broadcast was pulled and Thompson apologised.

He told viewers: "So you might have noticed, the eagle-eyed viewers amongst you, that was quite an old episode of Newswatch so we will find the right one and make sure we can bring that to you. So apologies for a few technical gremlins at this end."

Edwards is currently suspended from the BBC over allegations he paid for sexually explicit photographs.

BBC

In a statement via his wife Vicky Flind back in July, Edwards said: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

"Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.

"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.

"Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.

BBC

"In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.

"I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end."

The BBC came under fire for its handling of the initial complaints against Edwards, which were originally raised by the family of the young person in May.

The corporation said it tried to contact the family twice before The Sun published an exclusive story detailing the allegations.

In a letter to BBC News, the young person at the centre of the controversy later said via lawyers nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the-then unnamed presenter and the Metropolitan Police later said no criminal offence was committed by Edwards.

A BBC investigation into the events is currently being undertaken.