came out sun story that came out overnight and splashed again this morning that claimed this unnamed presenter , dumas, had unnamed presenter, dumas, had arranged to meet another individual through a dating app that that the presenter had travelled to another county dunng. travelled to another county during . the third lockdown on on during. the third lockdown on on i think the 1st of february or certainly in february 2021 with that allegation certainly in february 2021with that allegation . they say we are that allegation. they say we are aware of media reporting further allegations against the same individual. >> one second very sorry about this. now breaking news. vicky flynn, the wife of newsreader huw edwards , has named him as huw edwards, has named him as the bbc presenter facing allegations ones over payments for sexually explicit images. i will read that to you one more time. vicky flint, the wife of newsreader huw edwards , has newsreader huw edwards, has named him as the bbc presenter facing allegations over payments

for overpayments for sexually explicit images in a statement issued on his behalf, mark white joins me. >> yeah, well , that's the name, >> yeah, well, that's the name, of course, that it is in social media as a name that by privacy laws we were not able without breaking the law to bring to you. but the fact that this this presenter has now come forward themselves through their wife

who has issued this statement , who has issued this statement, well, clearly, we can now confirm , um, through her that confirm, um, through her that hugh edwards, the bbc presenter, this very , very prominent top this very, very prominent top bbc presenter, is now the presenter at the centre of this slew of allegations and who will be absorbing the news just like everyone else, that the metropolitan police do not feel that there is a criminal offence that there is a criminal offence that was committed with regard to the original allegation against hugh edwards, that was made on the 18th of may by the mother and stepfather of an individual . mother and stepfather of an individual. now the bbc have put out a statement in response to that metropolitan police line. they say, we've seen the statement from the police confirming they have completed their assessment and are not taking further action. we're grateful to them for completing their work . the police had

their work. the police had previously asked us to pause our fact finding investigations and we will now move forward, they say. with that work ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts while continuing to be mindful of our duty of care for all those involved. i'm just going to read you as well something from vicky flynn's statement . flynn's statement. >> so this is a statement in relation to her husband, hugh edwards, being named as the bbc presenter for reportedly , she presenter for reportedly, she says that her husband, hugh edwards, was suffering from serious mental health issues and is now receiving inpatient hospice care, where he will stay for the foreseeable future and has asked for privacy for her family. this is according to reports about this statement at the moment. >> well, clearly, i mean, she is revealing something. we absolutely did not know , a

absolutely did not know, a significant and serious development with that information coming from the wife of hugh edwards that he is receiving it in patient care , receiving it in patient care, hospital care for serious mental health issue . i was aware of health issue. i was aware of reports this actually from those within the industry and the bbc that know hugh edwards of a penod that know hugh edwards of a period of depression and that he had suffered in recent years as but as i say , this is a very but as i say, this is a very significant development that hugh edwards , according to his hugh edwards, according to his wife, has been admitted to hospital for inpatient care for a serious mental disorder. >> yes , no, indeed. if you're >> yes, no, indeed. if you're just joining us. okay. a series, of course, of breaking stories there. first things first is that the met police have conducted an assessment of

whatever information they were given and whatever evidence that they were given. and they have determined that there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed in reaching this decision. spoken to a decision. they've spoken to a number of parties, including the bbc alleged complainant bbc and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainants family, both via another police force. now that there force. they say now that there is no further police action. they go on to say as such, the met has advised the bbc that it can continue with its internal investigation. now the other bit of vicky of breaking news is that vicky flynn, the wife of hugh flynn, who is the wife of hugh edwards, has named hugh edwards now bbc presenter at the now as the bbc presenter at the centre this scandal. she has centre of this scandal. she has gone according to gone on to say, according to reports , that he's suffering reports, that he's suffering from serious mental health issues and is receiving issues and is now receiving inpatient hospital where he inpatient hospital care where he will stay for foreseeable will stay for the foreseeable future . so there we go . right. future. so there we go. right. lots to go out there and i will hand you over now to rory with your latest headlines, followed, of course, by dewbs& co .

of course, by dewbs& co. >> thank you very much , patrick. >> thank you very much, patrick. well, as you've been hearing from vicky flynn, the wife of newsreader hugh edwards , has newsreader hugh edwards, has named him as the bbc presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images. in a statement issued on his behalf . in her statement, vicky said her husband, hugh, was suffering from serious mental health issues and is now receiving inpatient and hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future as she asked foreseeable future as she asked for privacy for her family. the statement comes after met police detectives have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed by hugh edwards. but the met has advised the bbc it can continue with its internal investigation. a total of four claims have been made towards mr

edwards as we will of course bnng edwards as we will of course bring you more on that but in throughout the evening. but in other news, g. seven leaders have signed a joint declaration in support of ukraine, promising to stand by the country for as long as it takes. prime minister rishi sunak says it marks a new high point in the world's support for ukraine as the war against russia continues together with our g7 partners, we have agreed to provide the long term bilateral security commitments that ukraine needs. >> these commitments mark a new high point in international support for ukraine. and i want to be clear, they are not a substitute for nato membership. the summit communique echoes the uk's long held position that ukraine's future is in nato. and we've taken a big step this week towards bringing ukraine into the alliance .

the alliance. >> meanwhile, the defence secretary , ben wallace, has secretary, ben wallace, has suggested ukraine should show gratitude for the military support it has been given. he says the us and the uk are not on amazon service for weapons says the us and the uk are not on icountry service for weapons says the us and the uk are not on icountry .ervice for weapons says the us and the uk are not on icountry . butze for weapons says the us and the uk are not on icountry . but the r weapons says the us and the uk are not on icountry . but the primeons the country. but the prime minister says president zelenskyy has expressed of gratitude on a number of occasions. president zelenskyy reiterated he is thankful for all the help and he understands that being part of nato is not possible just yet . possible just yet. >> i believe that we will be in nato when the security situation will be stabilised and that means in when in the war will be finished, ukraine will definitely be invited to nato , definitely be invited to nato, and ukraine will definitely become a member nation to the alliance . alliance. >> i haven't heard any other opinion today. >> i haven't heard any other opinion today . for me, it was opinion today. for me, it was important that the nato

declaration contains gained security . security. >> the first asylum seekers have arrived at a former raf airbase in essex. 46 people arrived at wethersfield today with more individuals to arrive in the coming weeks. the site , which coming weeks. the site, which can house up to 1700 single aduu can house up to 1700 single adult men, is expected to be fully operational by autumn. immigration minister robert jenrick says the facility is in good condition to house migrants as it's right that we house those people who've come across in small boats in appropriate accommodation and it was never fair to the british taxpayer that people were being housed in expensive forms of accommodation and the sites that we're bringing forward now provide decent but not luxurious accommodation and we'll be standing up more in the future to tv online dab+ radio and on tune in. this is gb news. now,

though it's over to patrick and . emily >> yes, well , well, welcome >> yes, well, well, welcome back. of course, we are reacting now to that big breaking news, which is, of course, that firstly, the metropolitan police have decided that there is nothing they believe to be criminal in relation to the bbc presenter scandal, the second big piece of breaking news is that hugh edward's wife, vicky flint, has now named hugh edwards as the bbc presenter at the centre of that scandal and gone on to say that her husband was suffering from serious mental health issues and is receiving in—patient hospital care . so those are the latest care. so those are the latest developments at the moment. >> well, there are many questions to ask now. what does this say for the sun.7 what will the bbc's response to this be.7 we the bbc's response to this be? we have a statement from the

bbc. i believe if you've got that to hand. yeah. >> so the bbc, of course, going to now conduct their internal investigation in into all of this as they can do because the metropolitan police have said that there is nothing that they believe that they can do going forward. far they forward. as far as they are aware, criminal has aware, nothing criminal has taken aware, nothing criminal has takimany, many questions about >> many, many questions about why why hugh edwards did not name himself. if it why why hugh edwards did not name himself . if it now seems name himself. if it now seems clear, if we take his wife's statement that he has, in fact, been suffering from serious mental health issues, receiving in—patient hospital level care, where he will stay for the foreseeable future. yeah indeed. >> and mark white joins us. and we'll do for the foreseeable future as well. mark white, thank you very our home thank you very much. our home security so what is security editor. yes. so what is the then? it's fast paced this. >> well, of course, we were reporting big breaking reporting on the big breaking news that metropolitan news that the metropolitan police decided that that police had decided that that initial allegation that was reported in the sun newspaper here last friday did not amount in their assessment to a criminal offence, having been committed. so they weren't going

forward with that investigation in and therefore they are handing it back to the bbc to carry out whatever investigations they wanted in relation to the slew of allegations that were made after that first splash in the sun last friday. then of course , as last friday. then of course, as we were reporting on that and the bbc acknowledging that they are now going to take forward their own internal processes to look at the other allegations . look at the other allegations. we had the wife of hugh edwards coming out with that sensational statement to not only confirm that her husband is the man at the centre of these allegations , but that now he has been committed to a hospital with serious mental health issues for the foreseeable future. she said . and so clearly some real concern for her going forward and for all those who have a duty of care to this presenter and what the sun reported initially was that that he paid for explicit content from a 17

year old. >> does that now mean that is totally unfounded? the police have not found any truth to that because that was a criminal offence. that is a criminal offence. >> acas the what they have not found is any criminal obe. now that doesn't mean that at the end of the day with a full investigation that the bbc is now free to launch. but they don't find inappropriate behaviour. we know with regard to phillip schofield for instance , he did not commit instance, he did not commit a criminal offence , but in having criminal offence, but in having an affair with a younger , much an affair with a younger, much younger member of staff and the power dynamics and all of that, it was deemed to be inappropriate diet and he lost his job because of that. so these allegations may not the other ones amount to any kind of criminality, but it could be a pattern of inappropriate behaviour. we don't know that. >> no, absolutely . now, i am >> no, absolutely. now, i am just going read vicky flynn's just going to read vicky flynn's statement in full. so this is the wife of bbc presenter hugh edwards, who has now named him

as the presenter who's been at the centre of this scandal. so i'll read this statement to you in full. in light of the recent reports in regarding the bbc presenter, making presenter, i am making this statement of my statement on behalf of my husband, hugh after husband, hugh edwards. after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family, i'm doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well—being and to protect our children. hugh is suffering from serious mental health issues . as serious mental health issues. as is well documented , he has been 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 will stay for the foreseeable future. she goes on to say once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. to be clear, hugh was first told that there were allegations being made against him last thursday . in the him last thursday. in the circumstances and given hugh's condition, i would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in

these upsetting events is respected. she finishes by saying, i know that hugh 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. a lot of very revealing stuff in there. >> i think especially there is absolutely. and for i was in to cover for michelle dewberry and the first question we were going to ask tonight was do you have sympathy? are you starting to have sympathy for this unnamed bbc, bbc presenter utter we now know it is hugh edwards, the man in question. we know now this statement from his wife saying that he is in a deeply precarious mental health system situation. so i wonder whether things have changed. yeah indeed, mark. >> well, i think we need to take a little step back . absolutely. a little step back. absolutely. there is concern for hugh edwards and the emotional and mental state that he is in at the moment. his wife saying that the moment. his wife saying that the allegation has absolutely

worsened what was an ongoing condition in terms of severe depression that had been reported in the past. people knew that he had suffered from severe depression for a number of years . now, one can only of years. now, one can only imagine in facing those allegations and being told on thursday and then for allegation after allegation to come in the days that followed, that that would have absolutely a very detrimental effect on his ongoing mental health. however what i'm saying is, in terms of taking a step back, although the metropolitan police have said today they that they have assessed the allegations that were made that first that were splashed in the sun newspaper last thursday, as not crossing a threshold into criminality , that threshold into criminality, that doesn't mean that at the end of the day, with a formal investigation carried out

internally by the bbc, that they don't find that there was inappropriate behaviour here. and also the other allegations that were reported by the bbc's own news division yesterday . the own news division yesterday. the allegations relate guarding contact on a dating site pressure that an individual says as they felt under their very threatening and abusive and expletive laden messages then sent apparently to that individual when that individual was talking about the possibility of outing this person online. and what i'm saying is, in the fullness of time with a proper internal investigation , then there may be investigation, then there may be inappropriate conduct that is found. i don't know what you're saying. we don't know. there is still remain very serious allegations , but police have allegations, but the police have handed over back to the bbc handed it over back to the bbc because there is no sign of criminality. >> does us view some of >> it does make us view some of the tweets that been coming

the tweets that have been coming out or from other bbc out today or from other bbc presenters. interesting in a slightly light because slightly different light because you jeremy vine, who you had jeremy vine, who arguably was grandstanding a little, saying must name little, saying he must name himself for the benefit of us and for benefit benefit of and for the benefit benefit of him then had the former him. then you had the former presenter richard say no , presenter richard bacon say no, no, think about how he may be feeling . he may be having dark feeling. he may be having dark times . i feeling. he may be having dark times. i can't remember the exact words of what he tweeted, but said essentially, be but he said essentially, be careful, of emotional careful, have a bit of emotional intelligence seeing this statement now from his wife as well. >> it is interesting, isn't it? because because, look, when a lot of people, myself included , lot of people, myself included, i think in the first wake of this story , were calling on hugh this story, were calling on hugh edwards to either name himself or for there to be some naming of it, it was primarily based around the absolutely defamatory and slanderous allegations that were being completely trotted out left, right and centre on twitter. and i can completely understand that people that were saying it. i do think that there was a public interest versus the

rights privacy issue there rights of privacy issue there as well . clearly, there been well. clearly, there has been some on this some developments on this with his out and saying his wife coming out and saying that, basically saying that, well, basically saying that, well, basically saying that clearly quite that he's had some clearly quite serious episode, serious mental episode, i suppose could say, and that suppose you could say, and that he is receiving ongoing in—patient . i suspect that, in—patient care. i suspect that, mark, it's fair to say that at this moment in time, frankly, dodi, nobody is emerging, particularly well from this situation . situation. >> well, the story that the sun put forward alleging potential criminality here, clearly in the met's eyes is not true to that extent that it doesn't cross a criminal threshold . they clearly criminal threshold. they clearly , i think, were not as convinced by the story or at least how moeen ali culpable the chris moeen ali culpable the individual . you know, we know individual. you know, we know hugh edwards was was because they decided not to name him. there are privacy laws, but there is a defence as well . if

.thegeis a defence aswell, if what is you if you uncover what is blatant criminality, then clearly a person could be named. they never did . from is the they never did. from is the first day of friday of last week , right through to today. they still haven't named him until of course the name is now out there. that's true. >> is it fair to say perhaps some might view this and view the criminality element as almost being a red herring insofar as there are such serious allegations against him that remain whether they fall above or below criminality ? above or below criminality? >> should we should we should we have a quick remind founder, i think of some of allegations think of some of the allegations that were levelled at the person that were levelled at the person that has now been revealed as hugh edwards. okay. that has now been revealed as hugwell,vards. okay. " ' 7' ' w 7 that has now been revealed as hugwell, look okay. " ' 7' ' w 7 that has now been revealed as hugwell, look ,z)kay. 7 7 7 7 7 77 7 that has now been revealed as hugwell, look , it's(. 7 7 77 7 77 7 that has now been revealed as hugwell, look , it's a 77 7 77 7 77 7 that has now been revealed as hugwell, look , it's a really,7 7 7 77 7 the well, look, it's a really, really complicated picture. >> and we have to be careful because as although hugh edwards has now been named by his wife , has now been named by his wife, the other people at the centre of these allegations have not been named. they've not come forward in a sense that they

want to be publicly identified. there in so we can't even go there in terms of talking about sex of individuals or anything like that. that's why we see person or individuals. the first allegation relates to an individual, a young individual girl who is according to girl who was is according to this person's mother and stepfather , for 17 at a time stepfather, for 17 at a time when they were in communication with hugh edwards. that hugh edwards had received explicit pictures from edwards had received explicit pictlalso rom "“ edwards had received explicit pictlalso show'zée edwards had received explicit pictlalso show hugh edwards had that also show hugh edwards had paid significant sums of money -—— this person as 7 this 7person as well 7 7 this7person as well . 7 7 this7person as well . and 7 7 this7person as well . and the to this person as well. and the parents said this person was vulnerable because they had a so the issue of how drug habit. so the issue of how young this person was, because they were under the age of 18 and it is now apparently , of and it is now apparently, of course, i say apparently it is a

solicit criminal offence to send solicit pictures of anyone who is under 18, even even though, of course, you're going to have sexual relations with someone over the age of 16, even actually sending pictures, soliciting pictures would be a criminal offence. but looking into this , it seems the looking into this, it seems the met have either seen evidence that suggests that the person met have either seen evidence that overjests that the person met have either seen evidence that over 18ts that the person met have either seen evidence that over 18 orthat the person met have either seen evidence that over 18 or there 1e person met have either seen evidence that over 18 or there is person met have either seen evidence that over 18 or there is not .on was over 18 or there is not enoughin was over 18 or there is not enough in the way of evidence to confirm that the pictures were sent when the person was under 18. and that means anyway that they have reached a conclusion they have reached a conclusion the criminal threshold has not been crossed. they are not launching a criminal investigation. as i said, it meet-elmo“ m's—fit ”firm?" mean that '"veft'fl=*'eni=if—*$* ' ' ~ mean that at the end of doesn't mean that at the end of the day , the bbc investing the day, the bbc investing nafion the day, the bbc investing nation that goes doesn't find into hugh edwards doesn't find some kind of pattern of behaviour that they deem to be some kind of pattern of behaviour that thedon't�*m to be some kind of pattern of behaviour that thedon't know be inappropriate. we don't know that at this stage . that at this stage. >> yeah, exactly. that this is

it. and again, there were >> yeah, exactly. that this is it. and again, tithings. re >> yeah, exactly. that this is it. and again, tithings. there to the different things. there was the initial concern over criminality that appears not criminality that appears now not to the case. and the to be the case. and the metropolitan police have made to be the case. and the metrabundantly.ice have made to be the case. and the metrabundantly clear. ve made to be the case. and the metrabundantly clear. ve mnow that abundantly clear. this now becomes internal bbc issue becomes an internal bbc issue and issue will around and that issue will be around whether hugh edwards has whether or not hugh edwards has acted , whether acted inappropriately, whether or been abuse of or not there's been an abuse of power, is a moral power, whether there is a moral issue . look, i mean, when issue there. look, i mean, when it comes to even the breaking lockdown don't know lockdown rules, i don't know whether metropolitan whether or not the metropolitan police considered police have really considered that. the other that. i suspect that the other allegation been. that. i suspect that the other allewell,n been. that. i suspect that the other allewell, it's been. that. i suspect that the other allewell, it's an been. that. i suspect that the other allewell, it's an important point >> well, it's an important point , because what said, , because what they've said, it's that they've not it's not that they've not considered information considered it. no information has been passed formally has been passed to them formally for them to investigate , but for them to investigate, but that now, that doesn't mean that someone perhaps a son, someone else might not do that, someone who has a particular issue. and is concerned about whether hugh edwards did break lock lockdown rules. so it's possible that if they receive a complaint , they they receive a complaint, they may then have to investigate that. and then that will depend on the evidence that's there or

perhaps the electronic evidence of interaction with the other individual that we're talking about. this is the third individual now , in terms of the individual now, in terms of the allegation chain and a third individual that was reported in the sun newspaper this morning who claimed that they had met hugh edwards on a dating app , hugh edwards on a dating app, that they had come under pressure to meet hugh edwards and that he had travelled outside. yeah. to another county dunng outside. yeah. to another county during the third lockdown in february of 2021 to meet this person. now, if there is electronic evidence that absolutely backs that up, that that did happen, then it is possible. other people have retrospect effectively been prosecuted, issued , i should prosecuted, issued, i should say, at least with these fixed penalty notices for breaking covid rules. so that's possible i >> -- >> alli >> all i want to know are i believe we have michael cole joining us, former bbc

correspondent michael , are you i'm indeed. there? i'm indeed. >> and what terrible , sad and >> and what terrible, sad and tragic news because it involves at least two families and the sadness, certainly the state run by hugh edwards wife, certainly speaks to that. and one can only imagine what it's like in that family tonight and their children. but also there is this rather troubled young man who we understand has problems with drugs . and he obviously is not drugs. and he obviously is not on good terms with his mother and stepfather. so at least two families involved . and, uh, it families involved. and, uh, it ought to be remembered that only ten days, as far as i can calculate it, before the mother of this young boy contacted the bbc with her first complaint that hugh edwards was the lead commentator on the coronation, on the king's coronation and of course, as we all know , he was

course, as we all know, he was the go to man. he was the face of the bbc. he was the richard dimbleby of our age , as far as dimbleby of our age, as far as the bbc were concerned . so one the bbc were concerned. so one can understand how seriously they should have taken it. they should have taken it a lot seriously, a lot earlier. i might say. but here we have it. and this poor man. yes, go ahead , michael. >> you say talking about the where the bbc goes from here. >> they've issued a statement saying that the police have confirmed saying that the police have confi assessment, not taking their assessment, not taking further action. we will now move forward with our work. that means an internal investigation , means an internal investigation i , means an internal investigation , i presume. what do you think that looks like in reality for our viewers and listeners ? what our viewers and listeners? what does an internal investigation into the facts at the bbc actually look like ? actually look like? >> you're talking to the right person because i know all about them and what happens is that them and what happens is that the bigwigs in the various departments who may have a say

on this will get together and they'll call together the facts such as they are, and they'll ruminate for a bit and they'll talk around it and they'll decide what remedy, if any remedy there is to take and what how they should alter their to alter their procedures . but the alter their procedures. but the thing about this is that it's been too little, too late. they've been very heavy footed. this should have been on their radar. it immediately after the mother first brought it to their attention . but as we understand attention. but as we understand it, the director general, tim davie , didn't know until last davie, didn't know until last thursday about this. now that is appalling because the director general isn't just the director general isn't just the director general . he's the editor in general. he's the editor in chief. he's therefore responsible for everything in the way of news and current affairs emanate from the bbc and the first job of the editor in

chief is to know everything . chief is to know everything. there are things that he'll never publish , but he needs to never publish, but he needs to know everything . and we need to know everything. and we need to have somebody at the head of the bbc who's a journalist. and i'm sure tim davie is a very nice and charming man, and i'm sure he was probably brilliant he was probably a brilliant marketing but not for one marketing man, but not for one day in his life. he ever day in his life. has he ever been journalist. now, any been a journalist. now, any journalist you've had some journalist and you've had some around would around you sitting there would have known from start. as have known from the start. as soon as the name of hugh edwards was mentioned. in this context. and there then was built upon red light, should have been flashing . and i can only think flashing. and i can only think that it's poor staff work on the part of the people who should be advising tim davie in this. they should have been on top of this. they should have dealt with it. and at the last minute we hear that poor hugh is in hospital where i'm probably is the best place for him. >> yeah. and for the foreseeable future well . just i mean, not future as well. just i mean, not having to actually read that much between the lines of what his wife said, to be fair, i mean, clearly he is and has been

in a bad way and he's going to be in hospital for some time for the foreseeable future . and his the foreseeable future. and his wife there , vicky flind, alluded wife there, vicky flind, alluded to the fact that he has previously had suffered from depression . she goes on to say depression. she goes on to say that he's been treated for severe depression in recent years . and as one would imagine, years. and as one would imagine, the events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters. again, serious episode , she again, a serious episode, she says. look, michael , there is says. look, michael, there is going to be an inquest on top of an inquest, on top of an inquest here because we're going end here because we're going to end up with the sun being made to account for a variety of different things. no doubt the sun will be able to put up a robust for defence the right of a free press and the right of pubuc a free press and the right of public interest, etcetera . then public interest, etcetera. then you're going to end up with potentially , potentially the met potentially, potentially the met police, although now police, although they have now come did it take them come out. why did it take them so anything? so long to discount anything? they probably argue they would probably argue they're thorough they're doing a very thorough job that's they've come out job and that's they've come out now. you obviously have the now. you will obviously have the inquest hugh edwards

now. you will obviously have the inquest because h edwards now. you will obviously have the inquest because there ards now. you will obviously have the inquest because there are; lot himself because there are a lot of different aspects to conduct here. criminality was just one of those aspects. but you of those aspects. but as you were alluding to as well, possibly biggest inquest of possibly the biggest inquest of all will bbc's handling all will be the bbc's handling of if they've known about of this. if they've known about something two months and something for two months and then waited until the thursday presumed obe when they had a phone call to say we are splashed on this tomorrow and this is getting out that for a man who has had mental health issues will no doubt have been have been a catastrophic way to go about this for you. edwards well, you've summed it up brilliantly. >> the bbc is ponderous to the point of elephantine on occasions like this, it's always behind the curve. it's always reacting and never taking the lead . i don't have a phd in in lead. i don't have a phd in in hugh edwards studies, but i have noficed hugh edwards studies, but i have noticed that in recent interviews he has been talking about being unable to sleep. and i think he has mentioned depression. he said some really rather odd things in interviews , like when i retire, i want to

be piers morgan. i certainly whoever piers morgan is, whoever , whoever whatsoever station he's on. but these are strange things. at least that's what i thought from this rather straight welsh church background, welsh speaking bastion of the bbc. and as i say , he was their their their face and very much so and very dependable. and there he is taking command of the news desk, as you do so admirably. so it is what whichever way you look at it, it is a it's a little psycho drama all by itself. and i think at this time, we've got to realise that we've actually we looked at this from the point of view of news all the time and not gossip. and it is news and it's very sad. mental health is very well up there on the news agenda on any day, as you well know, because you look into it and we have to look at this in a human way. and there are at least two families, maybe more

at the heart of it. and i hesitate to make judgements on anybody at any time until i've heard all the evidence . i don't heard all the evidence. i don't know him . i retired from the bbc know him. i retired from the bbc in 88 before he became too came to prominence . but honestly, i to prominence. but honestly, i think we can only wish everybody in well, particularly the young man who's whose relationship with him sparked this. when his concerned parents went to the bbc, the bbc should have acted quicker. tim davies should have had better wingmen . he should had better wingmen. he should have been swooping in on that . have been swooping in on that. >> thank you very much indeed, michael cole, for your time. former bbc correspondent and someone who knows how these sorts of things work at the bbc, particularly when it comes to investigative reasons as well. it's interesting , though, to it's interesting, though, to think that if he is in this serious condition , how will the serious condition, how will the bbc be able to now investigate what happened without being able to speak to him? see, well, we

have with us on the table my wonderful panel. i'm very sorry for leaving you waiting. but of course, we've had this breaking news. we have kerry dingle with us.thank news. we have kerry dingle with us. thank you very much indeed. and david starkey, i will before we come to you, just read, reread the statement that was released to the pa news agency by vicky flint. that's the wife of hugh edwards, the bbc newsreader . it said, in light of newsreader. it said, in light of the recent reporting regarding the recent reporting regarding the bbc presenter end quote. i am making the statement on behalf of my husband, hugh edwards, what have been edwards, after what have been five difficult days 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 . our children. >> yes, there we go. she >> yes, well, there we go. she obviously went on to say, didn't she as well, that hugh edwards is in hospital receiving treatment. he has had a serious medical episode and his depression has got worse. and he will be in a medical facility for some time. david, i'll bring you in now. david starkey well , you in now. david starkey well, there's a lot to react to here.

i'm just going to get your overall assessment. >> i feel a great sadness for him and i also feel contempt. but the sadness is, let's be blunt, we haven't actually talked about what the clear issue is. this is a middle aged heterosexual man who has discovered his fundamental be 93v- discovered his fundamental be gay. as far as we the evidence seems to know . seems to know. >> okay, just stop that for a second. i understand what you're saying. i am going to come in and say that as yet we do not know the. >> well, everybody everybody's been saying youth. >> okay. yeah. the youth. that's the only thing we do not know the only thing we do not know the gender, but carry on, david. yes, know, i know. yes, i know, i know. >> let then start again. i >> let us then start again. i think that is likely to be the case. let us be kind to him and assume for one moment it is this is a terrible thing to happen to a man, to a marriage , to his a man, to a marriage, to his children. but of course , it's children. but of course, it's coupled with something else .

coupled with something else. it's coupled with that over whelming sense of the smugness of the star presenter . i know of the star presenter. i know i've been there and i've lost friends as one actually. in particular whom i bitterly regret because of the arrogance that that treatment entails . you that that treatment entails. you are the car door is open for you. that wonderful phrase of peter mandelson, the same being government minister. what is the most terrible thing about ceasing to be a government minister? you get in the back seat of cars and expect them to drive by themselves. well, drive off by themselves. well, you do. presenter, you are you do. as a presenter, you are asked what drink would you like ? is that chair too high? is that room too warm? you suddenly think you're invulnerable , think you're invulnerable, you're enviable. you become profoundly entitled and i think this is this and the business of the mental, the story of the kind of to call kind of what we used to call nervous breakdown. it's a clash between these two things, which,

of only a car of course, is not only a car crash for the individual, well, as i said, for his family and sort of for as i said, for his family and s(little for as i said, for his family and s(little unsympathetic to what a little unsympathetic to what michael coles was saying in that the bbc must receive these kind of rumours every day of the week on all of its main look. look how the internet leapt on all of these other presenters and presumably there is some sort of screening process. again the family in question, remember , family in question, remember, went to the police very family in question, remember, went to th and lice very family in question, remember, went to th and the very family in question, remember, went to th and the police said beginning and the police said there wasn't a criminal issue right at the beginning. so there wasn't a criminal issue right at the beginbusiness in this extraordinary business in which we have major institutions in a sense expected to assume which we have major institutions in a se moralpected to assume which we have major institutions in a se moral guardian assume which we have major institutions in a se moral guardian ,|ssume which we have major institutions in a se moral guardian , isume which we have major institutions in a se moral guardian , i don't role of moral guardian, i don't know about you. would you like your private life to be morally by angelos and this station? >> a very good point. many people would argue that if there is no criminality, people would argue that if there is |public inality, ff ,, , ,, people would argue that if there is |public interesttiséz, ,, , ,, people would argue that if there is |public interest . — ,, , ,, people would argue that if there is |public interest . kerry, ,, , ,, people would argue that if there is |public interest . kerry, what... ,, , ,, no public interest. kerry, what do you think? do you agree with david that well, do you have a

feeling of sadness as well, a feeling of sadness as well, a feeling of sadness as well, a feeling of sympathy ? what's your feeling of sympathy? what's your reaction ? reaction? >> not really. well there we go. doesn't it ? no. >> not really. well there we go. doesn't it? no. i'm hard nosed, doesn't it? no. i'm sure he's being very well looked after. you know, somebody as rich and famous as him isn't going to get the treatment that i know people who've had mental health breakdowns and i know people who've had mental health brhaveywns and z” i know people who've had mental health brhave got and z” i know people who've had mental health brhave got in1d ”' i know people who've had mental health brhave got in in z” i know people who've had mental health brhave got in in hackney,"' episodes have got in in hackney, in east london, where the treatment is appalling. he'll well probably be perfectly well looked after . so, no, i'm not looked after. so, no, i'm not weeping and i do think david's got a point about about weeping and i do think david's 7 7 7 7 7 got a pointof)out about weeping and i do think david's 7 7 7 7 7 got a pointof top about weeping and i do think david's 7 7 7 7 7 got a pointof top end jt narcissism of top end newsreaders and presenters and that extraordinary level of entitled . it means you do entitled. it means you do something as stupid as talking to youngsters of whatever sex they are of a very young age. but having said that, i do they are of a very young age. butshould| said that, i do they are of a very young age. butshould stopi that, i do they are of a very young age. butshould stop referringio they are of a very young age. butshould stop referring to the we should stop referring to the younger people involved as though they

younger people involved as thougithese are adults. you mean, these are adults. you know, these are over sixteens now, maybe , you know, one know, these are over sixteens now, problem,/ou know, one know, these are over sixteens now, problem, therefore one know, these are over sixteens now, problem, therefore that drug problem, therefore that makes them vulnerable. but they are over 16 and, and makes them vulnerable. but they areyoung6 and, and makes them vulnerable. but they areyoung peopleand makes them vulnerable. but they areyoung people no favours by do young people no favours by infantilizing them. >> look, i completely agree with you and i suspect that the vast majority of the nation do. however, there is a bizarre quirk of our law and our legal system. as you well as you well know, that will mean a product of point of confusion of it's a point of confusion about the age of consent in the 1990s, when the age of consent, there special age of there was a special age of consent gay there was a special age of conthat's gay rgglationships there was a special age of conthat's where elatmnshms there was a special age of conthat's where it ationships there was a special age of conthat's where it all nships there was a special age of conthat's where it all comes >> that's where it all comes from. but the surely there's a there's another thing. the parents have been constantly as their child referring to this as their child . and one can understand this desperate desire of parents to need to be accurate protect. we need to be accurate with our language. >> we do. >> we do. >> but it's all it's all very well isn't it say that a 17 well isn't it to say that a 17 year old is an adult? we all know that maybe in the most

narrow legal , are in behavioural terms, they're not. >> and this is this is why we ended up in this >> hold that thought. we are now joined former bbc news joined by former bbc news producer director of producer and director of newswatch, david keeley . thank newswatch, david keeley. thank you very much david, you very much indeed. david, i'll ask your reaction to what we've found out in the last, well, half an hour or so. hugh edwards has been named by his wife , aslef . wife, aslef. >> i think as with everyone in i'm just catching up on this. >> i think as with everyone in i'm just catching up on this . i i'm just catching up on this. i think as with everyone and what i've heard of your discussion , a i've heard of your discussion, a great mixture of feelings about it. obviously there is great sympathy for someone in mental distress at and i think it's very important that we keep in perspective too, that nothing in terms of his behaviour has been proved or disproved as yet . the proved or disproved as yet. the jury proved or disproved as yet. the jury has to be still out in terms of what what what actually happened, what i would say though, is that coming back to

what michael cole , i gather, was what michael cole, i gather, was saying earlier , the bbc's own saying earlier, the bbc's own internal processes for dealing with problems , their complaints with problems, their complaints procedure is a shambles . and i procedure is a shambles. and i know this was a sensitive issue . this isn't an impartiality know this was a sensitive issue . thisorn't an impartiality know this was a sensitive issue . thisor somethingirtiality know this was a sensitive issue . thisor something abouty issue or something about accuracy in terms of what's on output , but the accuracy in terms of what's on output, but the employer, all employers have a duty of care. and what what we were seeing here was that there was a big delay between the original reporting of this issue and actual action being taken. and i think the bbc need and in my organisation newswatch is campaigning for this, the bbc needs to overhaul its complaints procedure completely to make it much more transparent, much more independent and much more reactive in a genuine way to events that are going on.

>> yeah, no, indeed. and actually it has been a morbidly fascinating lesson in the way that media in general operates. it started with the sun tabloid press coming out. you know, pushing its free speech quite salacious allegation. that's the kind of stuff that that gets put out there. right. it is unquestioning a news story and it is unquestionably grabby. so therefore, becomes the therefore, it becomes the leading news agenda of the day. then the kind of eats itself then the bbc kind of eats itself alive it. culminates in alive with it. it culminates in some reporters. then turning some bbc reporters. then turning on and basically on hugh edwards and basically saying himself. saying he should reveal himself. and now end up with and then now we end up with a situation where it sounds very much a chap is much as though a chap is receiving urgent receiving very urgent potentially anyway, lifesaving care inpatient in a care as an inpatient in a hospital police no hospital. the police say no criminality. the bbc are doing their own internal investigation in all of this. look at the very least, david, whilst we have sympathy, of course, for hugh edwards current mental state and no doubt he's been through the fingen no doubt he's been through the ringer, at the very least, david, it does look as though some quite bizarre behaviour has exhibited itself, especially for

a married man with children and somebody who is supposed to have been embodying the bbc's values and culture. how do you see this one playing out from this moment in time ? in time? >> well, what i would say again, i'm afraid, is that nothing has yet been proved . yet been proved. >> i take your point completely that it looks on the surface that it looks on the surface that there is. shall we say, difficult behaviour in this equation. there may be abuse of power . all sorts of things come power. all sorts of things come into the equation . but i come into the equation. but i come back to the point that what, what, what is vital here is to not come to judgements at the moment , but not come to judgements at the moment, but to, not come to judgements at the moment , but to, to, to not come to judgements at the moment, but to, to, to for not come to judgements at the moment , but to, to, to for the moment, but to, to, to for the to bbc, come to grips with the, the facts as far as they can ascertain them and, and to be transparent about that so that we know if, if it was the case that a bbc presenter was abused their position in some way , then their position in some way, then obviously that is a matter of serious concern. someone with

such a high profile as hugh edwards in particular. but again, i stress i'm not reaching that judgement myself . i'm just that judgement myself. i'm just saying that is the big issues involved. >> david now. >> david now. >> hugh edwards absolutely massive figure at the bbc, been working there for , i don't know working there for, i don't know how many years, decades, decades , as did you know him personally ? he i don't know him personally, no. >> i was at the bbc. i was at the bbc in the 1980s before he was on the horizon , even as a was on the horizon, even as a news presenter . yeah. news presenter. yeah. >> were you aware that he was had suffered in the past from mental health issues, had had problems in that respect ? problems in that respect? >> i was and in fact, i also, as well as being a trained news person, news exec, etcetera, i am a trained psychotherapist, so i'm particularly interested in the impact of , if you like,

the impact of, if you like, psychological issues on on the media at and i noticed he was depressed , but, um, you can see depressed, but, um, you can see from, from what he's written about that and spoken about that that he's been in distress for some time . some time. >> i'm interested in if these allegations they are serious and if they don't reach the threshold of criminality, what makes a man risk it? >> well, this is this is this kind of behaviour. >> this is this kind of behaviour. is it nasty ism? is it a sense of entitlement or is it a sense of entitlement or is it that we all do you know, david starkey is adamant that it is something i was choosing to ignore . ignore. >> david he's called sex, for heaven's sake. >> all right. >> all right. >> can can, can we. can we be sensible? this is this looks to be very similar to phillip schofield men . are most men. schofield men. are most men. >> well, we can't . >> well, we can't. >> well, we can't. >> yeah, but look. >> yeah, but look. >> so please , this is that at >> so please, this is that at the moment. so this seems to me to be absurd shyness. >> but nevertheless let us try

to. but let us try to do something. we've been talking about hugh edwards as though he's some great titanic figure, represents lviv of the values of obe. this man is what he is, a newsreader . he reads from newsreader. he reads from autocue . one of the reasons why autocue. one of the reasons why people like this have nervous breakdowns is because they're invented figures . they're not invented figures. they're not serious. and yet they assume this huge gravitas , which i appreciate. >> i appreciate what you've said. i hope that everybody watching and listening also appreciates that this is an incredibly fast moving situation and that there are a variety of different still out different allegations still out there public domain at there in the public domain at there in the public domain at the moment remain unproven the moment that remain unproven . reading a statement . now, i'm reading a statement here of the recent here in light of the recent report regarding the bbc presenter this is from vicky flind, who is hugh edwards's wife. she says, i am making this statement on behalf of my husband, hugh edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. i'm doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well—being and to protect our children. hugh is suffering from

serious health issues . as serious mental health issues. as is documented. he has been is well documented. he has been treated for severe depression in recent days. the events of the last days have greatly last few days have greatly worsened has worsened matters. he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in—patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future once well enough to do so. he intends to respond to the stories that have been published to clear, have been published to be clear, hugh told that there hugh was first told that there were being made were allegations being made against him last thursday in the circumstances and given hugh'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 hugh is deeply so many deeply sorry that so many colleagues have impacted colleagues have been impacted by the speculation. we the recent media speculation. we hope this statement will bring an that, and i also just an end to that, and i also just want to just reemphasize again and make one thing very, very clear, metropolitan clear, that the metropolitan police look at any police have had a look at any thing that they would have been deemed have considered deemed to have considered criminal behaviour. deemed to have considered criminal behaviour . they have criminal behaviour. they have decided nothing criminal decided that nothing criminal has is has taken place and it is now over bbc to launch an over to the bbc to launch an internal investigation. i think

the question too what the big question too is what impact have the impact will this have on the media coverage? impact will this have on the me willoverage? impact will this have on the me will the age? impact will this have on the me will the sun back off? will >> will the sun back off? will people on social media back off? will the media die down? clearly clearly, hugh edward's wife hopes so with this statement . hopes so with this statement. okay. but we shall see. well, just before we go back to the panel just before we go back to the panel, we're going to bring in now former ofcom chief media adviser martin campbell. >> martin, thank you very much. it does very much go from one minefield to another. i must admit, when it comes to the reporting on all of this latest ongoing issues. reporting on all of this latest ongoing issues . just give me ongoing issues. just give me with your former ofcom chief media adviser , cappon. just give media adviser, cappon. just give media adviser, cappon. just give me your take on what we know so far . a series of breaking news far. a series of breaking news events in relation to hugh elle edwards. >> well, i think i mean , from >> well, i think i mean, from what we now know to be the case and we can put an awful lot of the awful speculate an aside, but the fact of the matter is that what this appears to show is there will still be arguments

about whether anything criminal has happened. and whether someone was 17. and so on. but the fact of the matter is, if you cut through this, the one thing that is certain for sure is just how inept the bbc still is just how inept the bbc still is in handling anything like this at all. i mean , the delay this at all. i mean, the delay in them doing anything sensible has clearly made it ten times worse for them. and i think, patrick, what it does is also is highlight the ridiculous position that overpaid talent has, has actually got now at the bbc. it appears to be untouchable . but if you if you untouchable. but if you if you start paying people pay a newsreader half £1 million a year and you pay a sports commentator, you know a one and a third million pounds and then you get the ceo saying he's the best sports commentator in the world, then the it's gone mad. the tail is wagging the dog . and the tail is wagging the dog. and i think that to have talent that

appear to be more influential than the management is what has happened at the bbc, which is why the whole structure there needs to be looked at. and it's why you finish up with something like this that needn't actually have got to this stage by the sounds of it. and obviously we don't know everything, but here you have someone who's clearly not very well and all this could actually perhaps have been sorted in a quieter , sensible sorted in a quieter, sensible way if the bbc weren't so inept i >> -- >> so. 5mm >> so. martin you believe quite strongly that the talent or the presenters, the newsroom leaders, the very highly paid staff at the bbc, feel as though they're untouchable by the same rules that everyone else has to play by rules that everyone else has to play by in the organisation . play by in the organisation. >> yeah, well, they are, aren't they?i >> yeah, well, they are, aren't they? i mean, you've only got to look at gary lineker and yes we,

we're going to make sure that gary lineker tones down his tweets and go, well he hasn't and nobody's done anything. so the whole thing is a nonsense . the whole thing is a nonsense. >> okay. look, regardless of what happens now going forward , what happens now going forward, i mean, again, i just want to emphasise there's a series of different things at play here for hugh edwards. okay. so there was the initial element of alleged criminality, which now doesn't exist, okay? there was also no the idea of whether or not there's an abuse of power being aggressive and threatening to somebody else . there was the to somebody else. there was the potential breach of lockdown rules which whereas yet unsure as to whether or not that includes the criminality that's mentioned the met police mentioned in the met police statement the way, there's statement by the way, there's also these quotes on quotes, creepy messages . et cetera. creepy messages. et cetera. look, martin, when is this it for hugh ? for hugh? >> well , i for hugh? >> well, i think clearly for hugh? >> well. i think clearly —, , for hugh? >> well. andink clearly —, , for hugh? >> well. and he clearly —, , for hugh? >> well. and he isearly —, , for hugh? >> well. and he is certainly,, , not well. and he is certainly not well. and he is certainly not well. and he is certainly not well . and so i certainly

can't see him coming back into the fray any time soon. and you have to remember the fray any time soon. and you have to remembe he|at. the fray any time soon. and you have to remembe he he clearly he took although he he clearly publicly said that, you know, maybe he should get a bit more recognition than he is getting. you know, he was the voice of the queens funeral. he was the voice of the coronation um, and i can't see the bbc putting him back in that position. and for health reasons, you know , maybe health reasons, you know, maybe they shouldn't . they shouldn't. >> okay. now look, we'll have to wait and see. obviously how all of this pans out. can i just raise as well one thing that i think presumably a lot of people will be thinking it is hugh edwards is wife who has come out and released this statement and for all of this hoo ha about the way that the bbc have handled this , how long it must taken the this, how long it must taken the met to release this statement . met to release this statement. the sun hugh edwards himself and whilst clearly huge levels of

sympathy for anybody who is suffering by the sounds of it, the kind of episode that hugh edwards is, and we don't wish anything like that upon anyone, you know, his behaviour from the allegations insinuate that allegations would insinuate that there's slightly there's something slightly untoward potentially, maybe there. i feel very, very sorry for his wife and kids. >> yes. >> yes. >> and i think that's important that they're not they're not lost all in this. martin >> they are. and you know, as a as a media adviser , one of the as a media adviser, one of the great things that has obviously changed for me over the years now is how social media has pervaded the whole landscape and effectively poisoned it because the what we used to regard as fleet street now will find that they have to go a lot further than they would normally have done, even during the, you know, the reign of the red tops. they will have to go further because if they don't, someone on social media will. and this is a

problem that the whole of the media needs to needs to face up to. now because, you know , fair to. now because, you know, fair game, it seems to be the catchphrase for anything that happens now . and that's a shame happens now. and that's a shame because the difference between what you and i remember as old fleet street and newspapers and media today is now miles apart simply because of social media. >> thank you very much. thank you, martin. martin campbell there. former ofcom chief media adviser. it is terribly, terribly sad that his wife has had to release this statement. must be going through such pain and anguish. >> it's absolutely devastating for pretty much everybody involved . clearly, hugh is involved. clearly, hugh is suffering . and this is this is suffering. and this is this is the statement , emily, i suffering. and this is this is the statement, emily, i think if you want to read out for it, this is from his tribute to his wife. >> yeah. this is from his his his wife in light of the recent

reporting regarding the bbc presenter, i'm making the statement on behalf of my husband, hugh edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult our family. difficult days for our family. i'm primarily of i'm doing this primarily out of concern mental concern for his mental well—being our well—being and to protect our children . us, who is suffering children. us, who is suffering from serious mental health issues. as is well documented , issues. as is well documented, he has treated for severe he has been treated for severe depression years. the depression in recent years. the events of the last few days have greatly matters . he has greatly worsened matters. he has suffered serious episode suffered another serious episode and receiving in—patient and is now receiving in—patient hospital where he'll stay 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 be clear, have been published to be clear, hugh that there hugh was first told that there were allegations being made against thursday. against him last thursday. in the given the circumstances and given whose condition, would like to whose condition, i would like to ask the privacy my ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up upsetting events is up in these upsetting events is respected know hugh is respected. i know that hugh is deeply that so many deeply sorry that so many colleagues impacted colleagues have been impacted by the media speculation. we the recent media speculation. we hope statement will bring hope this statement will bring that an end. kerry i just that to an end. kerry i just wanted to slightly disagree with martin and maybe your final point.

>> okay, patrick because just saying, you know , unlike fleet saying, you know, unlike fleet street , you know, social media street, you know, social media is all way out of control and that's an attack on us. that's an attack on ordinary people commenting and having their say as though and i think the vast majority of ordinary people will be entirely sympathetic to hugh's wife and kids and the trauma they've gone through entirely. so accusing the public of being some battering ram that wants more prurience for presenter yes , terrible. he's presenter yes, terrible. he's ill. newsreader terrible. he's ill. newsreader terrible. he's ill but oversexed and overpaid. doesn't get my sympathy and look , it is, and i say this with my eyes wide open. >> nor does the behaviour of the public. what the internet shows is that the public without rules behaves badly. there are two completely different views of human nature. one is that when naturally good , that's rousseau naturally good, that's rousseau and rules makers bad. the other

is thomas hobbes. that we're naturally bad and rules make us good. >> and that's why you go david. >> and that's why you go david. >> the internet shows conclusive glee that thomas hobbes is right. and you're better than the public and the public. the pubuc the public and the public. the public without control. and the public. this is why we invented. i know in hackney it doesn't happen. this is why we invented civilisation. this is why we invented civilisation and law and civilisation. civilisation makes us better. except in hackney. >> i think you make a decent point. >> i'm just to going jump in. i'm actually as possible saved by the police here. possibly saved by the siren. not so much. the bell i have. i have a full met police statement now to bnng met police statement now to bring detectives from bring you. so detectives from the specialist command bring you. so detectives from the now specialist command bring you. so detectives from the now concluded:ommand bring you. so detectives from the now concluded their and have now concluded their assessment determined have now concluded their assethere 1t determined have now concluded their assethere is determined have now concluded their assethere is no determined have now concluded their assethere is no information nined have now concluded their assethere is no information to led and there is no information to indicate a criminal offence indicate that a criminal offence has been committed. oh, sorry. i i had anticipated that statement would have gone on for a bit longer, but i suppose it is the met police in fact, isn't it? now we are here at gb news going

to be sticking with this story. it clearly huge series of it is clearly a huge series of all links, but different breaking news stories . firstly, breaking news stories. firstly, there that met police there was that met police statement says that no statement which says that no criminal has been criminal offence has been committed. will committed. the bbc now will conduct internal conduct its own internal investigation. edwards, investigation. hugh edwards, his wife, and named wife, then came out and named him at the him as the presenter at the centre this scandal, but also centre of this scandal, but also followed that up with the revelation hugh of revelation that hugh edwards, of course, is indeed receiving course, now is indeed receiving medical in hospital medical treatment in hospital due to a resurgence of severe depression. they are hoping that that potentially brings an end to the matter. he will respond to the matter. he will respond to the matter. he will respond to the slew of allegations in due course. >> this has been a slightly different version of dewbs& co us to say the very least. >> however , and co carver and >> however, and co carver and co. well, i have been happy to be the co in a way. can i just say thank you very much to both panellists? >> thank you very much indeed. >> thank you very much indeed. >> not exactly what you signed up to. it must be said when you when you came on the show. i just want to just say to people

as well, stay tuned right here because we're with because we're staying with this story mark our home story now. mark why? our home security editor is hotfooting it back studio we speak back into the studio as we speak as nigel farage. so make sure as is nigel farage. so make sure you keep it gb news here for mark white and farage who you keep it gb news here for maribe'hite and farage who you keep it gb news here for maribe one and farage who you keep it gb news here for maribe on your farage who you keep it gb news here for maribe on your screens'arage who you keep it gb news here for maribe on your screens inage who you keep it gb news here for maribe on your screens in justvho will be on your screens in just a matter seconds. take care