Martin Clunes Opens Up About Huw Edwards Role in New Channel 5 Drama
Actor Martin Clunes has candidly shared his evolving perspective on Huw Edwards, the disgraced former BBC newsreader, as he prepares to portray him in the upcoming Channel 5 drama, Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards. Clunes, 64, admitted he initially felt "sympathy" for Edwards, believing he was merely being "outed in the newspapers," but this view shifted dramatically when the full extent of the allegations came to light.
From Confusion to Clarity: The Scandal Unfolds
Clunes recounted the bizarre and confusing early days of the scandal, which saw multiple BBC presenters publicly deny involvement before Edwards was eventually named. "It was weird at the time because they wouldn’t name him, so lots of BBC presenters kept saying it wasn’t them, and it caught fire, and then it was a surprise when Huw Edwards was named," he explained. His initial sympathy stemmed from a perception that Edwards was a victim of media targeting. "You felt sympathy for him at first, because it just seemed like a person in the public eye was being outed in the newspapers, and I can say from personal experience that newspapers only want to be nasty about people in the public eye," Clunes said.
However, this sentiment quickly changed as more details emerged. "But then they found messages on his telephone, and that was a whole different ball game," he added, referring to the discovery of indecent images that led to Edwards's legal downfall. The drama delves into these events, including Edwards's admission of accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.
Preparing for a Challenging Role: Beyond the Public Persona
In preparing for the role, Clunes emphasised the importance of moving beyond Edwards's well-known public persona as a newsreader. "I was familiar with Huw Edwards the newsreader, and how he presented himself when he was reading the news," he said. "But I’ve seen other actors make the mistake of just inhabiting that projected face of a famous person or politician – I knew that we needed the other side of him too."
Clunes noted the difficulty in finding archive footage of Edwards outside his professional duties, but observed a distinct difference in his demeanor. "I noticed from looking at that archive that he was different when he wasn’t reading the news, and I wanted to make that distinction. If you listen to his rhythms, he’s far more Welsh when he’s not newsreading."
Acting Approach: Empathy Without Judgment
Discussing his method, Clunes highlighted an empathetic approach to character portrayal. "I certainly don’t think you should ever be judging a character you’re playing, you just have to find ways to get into character," he stated. He drew on personal experiences to connect with the role, saying, "I’m not attracted to men, but I’m attracted to women, so I know what it feels like to be attracted. Then sometimes with acting you just have to jump off the cliff and hope you land well – you don’t want everything to feel measured and calculated."
The Downfall of a BBC Icon
Edwards, once one of the BBC's highest-paid newsreaders, was a familiar face on News At Ten for decades, delivering major stories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II. His downfall began in July 2023 following a report by The Sun alleging a "top BBC star" had paid a teenager for sexual images. Days later, his wife publicly named him. He was charged in June 2024 after a Metropolitan Police investigation and pleaded guilty in July 2024 to making indecent images of children, admitting to possessing 41 photographs on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type.
Production Details and Broadcast Information
The drama, directed by Bafta and Emmy-winning Michael Samuels, will also feature Welsh actor Osian Morgan as Ryan, a character contacted by Edwards in the film. Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is scheduled to air on Tuesday, March 24, at 9pm on Channel 5, promising an in-depth exploration of this high-profile scandal.
