Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards airs tonight on channel 5
Huw Edwards’ spectacular fall from grace plays out in Channel 5’s new factual drama, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards tonight, and the man who plays him – Martin Clunes – has a word of warning for critics of the film.
The drama, airing tonight (March 24), sees Martin star as Huw Edwards. It charts the broadcaster’s dramatic downfall after he was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
Ahead of the film, which is almost two hours long, Clunes appeared on Good Morning Britain. During his chat, he was asked about complaints that it’s too soon to tell Huw’s story.
“I don’t know. If anybody thinks it’s too soon, don’t watch it,” he told hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid. I don’t think it’s too soon. I don’t know what, I don’t know what the timetable is for these things.”
Never, would be Huw’s preference, judging by a statement he put out earlier this week…
Huw Edwards shares regret in new statement
In his statement earlier this week shared with the Daily Mail, Edwards emphasised that he had already accepted full responsibility for his actions in court. He also expressed what he described as profound remorse.
He said: “My deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court. In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions. I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children. Every image represents an innocent victim. I offer my sincere and profound apologies for what I did.”
Edwards also opened up about the extent of his long-term mental health struggles, revealing he has lived with persistent mental illness for more than two decades. He added: “I have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years. What is less well known is the severity of that condition, which was managed successfully until the downward spiral which led to an appalling outcome.”
While he stressed this could never excuse his behaviour, he said it may help explain how his life deteriorated so significantly. He said: “Mental illness is misunderstood by many but can never be an excuse for criminality. It can, however, at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did.”
A desire to tell his own story
Edwards also revealed that he is working on his own account of events. But he admitted that progress has been slow due to what he described as a “fragile” state of health. He suggested that his version would provide a fuller picture of what happened, particularly around the decline in his mental wellbeing and the decisions that followed.
Turning to the upcoming programme, Edwards criticised Channel 5 and its production company Wonderhood, arguing that the portrayal is unlikely to reflect reality. He claimed “no attempt” was made to contact him to check “the truth of any aspect of their narrative”. He added that the show is “hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened” and questioned whether contributors had been paid for their involvement.
Huw Edwards levels criticism at Channel 5 drama as Martin Clunes speaks out
Speaking earlier today (March 24), Martin Clunes was asked by Susanna Reid: “What do you make of the criticism from some that this is too soon, this is recent, it’s not even history. Somebody is living this, a family’s living this.
“You know, the young man’s family is living this as well. I know that they cooperated, but what do you make of that? That there’s a point at which it’s too soon and there’s a point at which it’s okay.”
He responded: “I don’t know. If anybody thinks it’s too soon, don’t watch it.”
Clunes added: “I had the script, I do just have to get behind everything the script gives you. Judging it was not on my list of things to do that day. Standing back and saying: ‘This is a terrible man doing terrible things’ – that’s not my task. It was to try and inhabit what the script gives me.”
Channel 5 responds
Channel 5 has also defended the programme and its editorial process.
A spokesperson said: “Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.
“It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”
The production company, Wonderhood Studios, has also been approached for comment.