Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards: everything we know

Channel 5’s brand-new drama series Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards portrays a fictionalised account of the events surrounding BBC newsreader Huw Edwards in 2023 and his subsequent conviction for possession of indecent images of children.

Across the two-part series, viewers are shown the double life of one of the country’s most recognisable newsreaders, as well as the fallout following his conviction in 2024. The storyline explores the grooming of a 17-year-old boy, placing a spotlight on the complexities and dangers of such behaviour.

Martin Clunes takes on the role of Edwards in a performance that unsettles as much as it captivates, portraying both the outwardly respected news anchor and the dark private actions of his character. While the series dramatises these events, questions remain about how realistically it depicts digital grooming and the associated risks.

Is Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards a true story?

Ahead of the series release, Channel 5 said, “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, their family, the journalists who revealed the 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.”

Huw Edwards, the former BBC newsreader known for breaking major stories — including the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death — is central to the series. That particular broadcast is used in the opening scene, highlighting the public trust placed in him and the role he played in the nation’s collective memory.

In 2023, The Sun reported an interview with a mother who claimed a BBC presenter had paid her child substantial sums in exchange for explicit photos. According to the mother, the alleged abuse began in 2020 when her child was 17, with the payments reportedly funding a crack cocaine habit. Edwards was not named at the time, and the mother said her complaints to the BBC had gone unheeded.

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