BBC warned Edwards over conduct in 2022

THE BBC told Huw Edwards to stop messaging a woman two years before the scandal that resulted in his departure from the corporation, it has emerged.

The former presenter, who resigned last week on medical grounds, was investigated by bosses in 2021 after the corporation received a complaint from a woman with whom he had been in regular contact.

She requested the BBC intervene to halt the contact and Mr Edwards was informed about the complaint by a manager.

The woman later retracted the complaint following further contact from the presenter, but in January 2022 she raised concerns for a second time with the corporation.

When the second complaint was also retracted, a senior BBC manager spoke to Mr Edwards and he was told any contact with the woman should cease.

The 62 year-old, who was the BBC’S lead news presenter, was taken off the air nine months ago after it emerged he had paid a young person £35,000 and had received explicit images from them.

The BBC carried out an internal review into its handling of the earlier complaints from the woman, who was in her 40s, and the report was completed last month.

The findings, which have been seen by The Sunday Times, raise questions around the handling of non-editorial complaints against staff and the corporation has accepted recommendations for improvements.

It is understood Mr Edwards’ communications with the woman began in 2018 when she contacted him via his Instagram account. The pair were then in regular contact until she complained to BBC bosses in 2021.

Mr Edwards was spoken to about the complaint and communication stopped, but then it started up again, it was claimed. After the second complaint, in 2022, communications ceased once more, but again resumed.

The BBC refused to comment on the woman’s complaints but said there were “robust processes” in place when dealing with non editorial complaints.

Mr Edwards has been contacted for comment.