Huw Edwards 20-year battle with his mental health

Huw Edwards 20-year battle with his mental health: Presenter spoke openly about his bouts of depression that left him ‘bedridden’ after he was left feeling ‘helpless’ following his father’s death in 2010

  • Edwards is accused of paying a teenager in return for explicit photographs 
  • He has spoken out about his depression that has affected him for over 20 years 

Huw Edwards has previously spoken about his 20-year battle with his mental health that left him ‘bedridden’ at times. 

The BBC broadcaster and journalist was revealed yesterday as the presenter accused of paying £35,000 to a ‘vulnerable’ teenager in return for explicit photographs.

His wife Vicky Flind broke the news of his behaviour in a statement where she also said her husband had been taken to hospital as the controversy had a ‘serious’ effect on his wellbeing. 

She added that the 61-year-old is suffering from ‘serious mental health issues’ and ‘he has been treated for severe depression in recent years’. 

Edwards has spoken out publicly in the past about the issue that has affected him over the course of 20 years since 2002 and which was made worse after the death of his father in 2010.

The broadcaster admitted that while they never had a particularly touchy-feely relationship,’ he was still the one who broke news to his father – academic and Welsh nationalist Hywel Teifi Edwards – that his cancer was terminal ten days before he died, aged 75. 

Huw Edwards (pictured) has previosuly spoken about his 20-year battle with his mental health that left him ‘bedridden’ at times

Edwards (pictured right) has spoken out publicly in the past about suffering from depression which was made worse after the death of his father (pictured left) 

The BBC broadcaster and journalist was revealed yesterday as the presenter accused of paying £35,000 to a ‘vulnerable’ teenager in return for explicit photographs

In an interview with Alastair Campbell in May 2022 as part of the Men’s Health UK Talking Heads series Edwards said: ‘I’m pretty clear that I have suffered – and do suffer – from depression.

‘It’s not anxiety, although it includes anxiety, but it tends to hit me in a strong wave and then go away. I think at least I now know when I’m going to enter a phase like that.

‘Your mind goes into a place where you don’t want to do anything. You can’t make any decisions.

‘Things that you usually enjoy, you dread. You come into work and obviously you do a professional job, but you’re kind of pushing your way through it.

‘And, of course, if it’s very bad – as it has been a few times over the course of 20 years – you can’t work. During the worst one I had, I couldn’t get out of bed.’

He said: ‘When I think back 20 years to me getting The Ten job, it took a long time to stop having a thin skin about people having a pop. “Why is this Welsh guy doing the news?”

‘”Why doesn’t he sod off back to Cardiff and do the news there? All he does is read an autocue! Get rid of him!”

‘You can laugh it off but if it’s every bloody week. I wasn’t used to it. I was used to being told I was brilliant. My mistake was thinking you can please all of the people. And you can’t.’

In an interview with Alastair Campbell in May 2022 as part of the Men’s Health UK Talking Heads series Edwards said: ‘I’m pretty clear that I have suffered – and do suffer – from depression’ 

Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind broke the news of his involvement in the controversy in a statement. She also said her husband had been taken to hospital as the ordeal had a ‘serious’ effect on his wellbeing

He also spoke to the Times’ Saturday Magazine in 2020 about the death of his father 10 years earlier and revealed he kept eating to numb his emotional pain. 

He said: ‘It was a proper kind of depression about how I felt and where I felt I was, my dad and everything,’ . ‘I felt it had become rather overwhelming.’

‘The worst thing was I felt I couldn’t do anything about anything. I felt a bit helpless.’

Huw went on to explain that he continued to present BBC News at Ten – and covered high-profile events – including the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – despite having time to fully process his grief.

‘By 2016-17, I had put on a lot of weight,’ he explained. ‘I felt dreadful. I mean, physically. It’s like a drug. I’d eat when I wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t doing any fitness. I was grazing, watching telly and eating stuff, even though I didn’t need it.’

It was only when his mother Aerona warned him that he had ballooned to the same weight as his late father that Huw realised he had to take action.

Following the suggestion by his wife Vicky, he took up boxing and running, and with the help of champion boxer Clinton McKenzie, Huw managed to lose an impressive three stone – while his mental health significantly improved, too.

Huw went on to explain that McKenzie gave him a helping hand when it came to his diet: ‘He just says, ‘Eat sensibly. If you want a pint or a glass of wine, that’s fine. Just don’t overdo it and don’t eat’ – in his words – ‘sugary s***’.’

The Met Police confirmed yesterday it was no longer investigating the allegations against the seasoned BBC anchor as a ‘criminal offence’, shortly before Flind revealed his identity.

A statement from the force said: ‘Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed.’

The Met’s statement regarding the allegations said a number of parties had been spoken to, including the BBC, the alleged complainant and their family ‘via another police force’ and concluded there would be no further police action. 

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