BBC Request Presenter Edward To Return $225k Salary

The BBC stated on Friday that it had asked disgraced former broadcaster Huw Edwards to return his income from November of last year when he was arrested on accusations of producing obscene photographs of children.

Edwards, one of the most known faces on British television, pled guilty last month to three crimes and now faces a maximum prison sentence of ten years and a minimum of twelve months.

The BBC Board stated that the 62-year-old former news anchor had "undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute".

The broadcaster initially learned of his imprisonment in November. He was suspended then, but he only left the broadcaster five months later, receiving full salary in the interim.

This amounted to around £200,000 ($255,000) — a particular source of anger as the BBC is funded by a license fee paid by any UK household watching live channels on a television.

The board statement said it had “authorized the Executive to seek the return of salary paid to Mr. Edwards from the time he was arrested in November last year.

“Mr Edwards pleaded guilty to an appalling crime. Had he been upfront when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money,” it added.

It did not confirm whether legal action would be taken if Edwards refused to return the money.