HUW: NEWS JUST IN ..I’M READY TO QUIT
Age and pay cuts catch up with presenter HUW Edwards is thinking of quitting his role as anchor of BBC1’s News at 10 as he turns 60 this week.
The newsreader, who has fronted the bulletin since 2003, said it was time to consider making way for others.
In a Welsh-language interview, he told Radio Cymru: “The nightly news business, after 20 years, that can be taxing – even though I still enjoy the job. But I don’t think I’ll be doing that for long.
“In the first place, I think it’s fair for the viewers to get a change.”
The dad of five, married to BBC producer Vicky Flind, hinted his exit could be in the next few years.
He said: “I won’t disappear tomorrow because I’m still enjoying myself.
“But, of course, I’m thinking about the working patterns of the future.”
He admitted being angry at his pay being cut by up to £170,000 in recent years by bosses trying to close the gender pay gap. And he was infuriated at having his salary revealed every year since 2017 under Government rules for BBC stars earning over £150,000.
He said it was handled “clumsily”, adding: “I’m thankful I have a job that pays well. But my own children didn’t know how much I was paid.
“My mother and father always told me it wasn’t my business what other people were paid.” His pay is now £430,000 after he took a cut on last year’s £470,000 salary. His top-earning year on record was in 2017, at between £550,000 and £600,000.
He admitted the cut had affected how he feels about his job. He said: “It has angered me... it’s certainly going to affect your attitude towards the work. Especially if you see co-workers getting large pay rises and you don’t understand why.”