Wife's statement reveals how Huw Edwards's mental health got out of control over scandal

The statement made by Huw Edwards' wife, in which she revealed that he was the BBC star at the centre of the sex pictures scandal, has shone a light on the spiralling mental health of the TV stalwart.

Vicky Flind told the PA news agency that the news achor was receiving in-hospital care for his worsening mental health.

In her statement, she revealed that the Welsh 61-year-old is "suffering from serious mental health issues" and that since The Sun published its story, alleging a BBC star had paid a teenager £35,000 for sexual images, his condition had worsened.

She told the agency: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter’, I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.

"I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental wellbeing and to protect our children."

The suspended presenter had previously spoken to former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell for Men's Health about his battles with depression.

The interview, for Men’s Health UK Talking Heads in May 2022, revealed Mr Edwards' struggle against his mental health challenges.

He 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."

Now his wife's statement has revealed the sudden plunge in Mr Edwards' mental state following the publication of The Sun's story.

She said: "Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As 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'll stay for the foreseeable future.

"Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.

"In the circumstances and given Huw'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 Huw 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."