Huw Edwards branded ‘shameless’ after sharing new portrait while serving suspended sentence

The disgraced former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has sparked widespread outrage after uploading a polished black-and-white professional headshot to Facebook – despite still serving a suspended prison sentence for child sex offences.

Edwards, 64, shared the carefully staged portrait on Sunday. The image, which shows him in a suit jacket with silver stubble and a faint smile, immediately triggered backlash from victims’ families, charities, politicians and PR experts who accused him of attempting a public “comeback” while refusing to acknowledge the harm he caused.

His decision to re-emerge publicly has also raised fresh questions about whether the former BBC News at Ten anchor is testing the waters for a return to public life.

🔵 Family of victim condemns Edwards’ ‘shameless’ behaviour

The stepfather of the teenager groomed by Edwards said the photo was “sickening” and an insult to victims.

He told The Sun:
“He’s scum… Any time he raises his head, it is an insult to his victims. He needs to disappear.”

The man added that Edwards’ attempt to rehabilitate his public image was “delusional”, saying:
“You can paint over cracks but you can never hide them.”

One of Edwards’ victims also criticised the post, asking:
“Does this man have no shame? This picture suggests the opposite.”

🔵 Politicians and campaigners warn Edwards is showing ‘no remorse’

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said Edwards was “lucky” to avoid prison and insisted that if he felt genuine remorse he “would never show his face in public life again.”

Marilyn Hawes, founder of Freedom from Abuse, accused Edwards of narcissism:
“It shows what a narcissist he is. If he had any conscience, he’d give his payout back.”

Another safeguarding expert called the portrait “provocative” and “deeply insensitive”.

🔵 PR experts: photo looks like a calculated ‘soft-launch comeback’

Crisis-management specialists warned that the portrait appears strategic rather than reflective.

Mark Borkowski commented:
“One stylish photograph can’t rewrite the past. It risks looking tone-deaf, even provocative.”

PR consultant Mayah Riaz added that the timing appeared “premature and carefully curated,” warning that audiences would see through any attempt at brand restoration.

Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards, has updated his Facebook profile picture with a new black and white image that reeks of narcissism. It's supposedly an attempt to rebuild his career.

As if being found in possession of child pornography was not enough to shatter his ego… pic.twitter.com/6K5QS8y7KC
— 𝔸η𝐓 (@AntSpeaks) December 8, 2025

🔵 Supporters defend Edwards under the Facebook post

Despite the backlash, some Facebook users posted supportive comments beneath the photo – praising him personally and expressing hope he might return to broadcasting.

Messages included:
“Miss your news reading mate.”
“You have so much talent to share.”
“Looking really well, Huw.”

The mixed reaction has intensified debate over whether Edwards is attempting to re-enter the public sphere.

🔵 Background: Edwards’ convictions and fallout

Edwards pleaded guilty in July 2024 to possessing 41 indecent images of children – including seven Category A images – which were supplied to him by a convicted sex offender via WhatsApp.

In September 2024 he received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, narrowly avoiding immediate custody.

The court heard he had described some child abuse footage as “amazing” and encouraged more to be sent to him.

Key fallout includes:

He remains under a court-mandated sex-offender treatment programme.
The BBC has not yet recovered £200,000 paid to him after his arrest.
His £4.75m Dulwich home was recently withdrawn from sale after repeated price cuts.

He resigned from the BBC earlier in 2024 on medical grounds.