In a surprising turn of events, Dame Elan Closs Stephens, the former chair of the BBC, has publicly expressed gratitude towards newsreader Huw Edwards for his "huge contribution," despite being aware of his arrest in November of last year. Dame Elan, who served as interim chair before Edwards' eventual resignation in March, made her remarks during a recent interview on the Welsh-language radio program Beti a'i Phobol.

Confirming that she was aware of Edwards' arrest during her tenure, Dame Elan stated that she was not privy to the "terrible details" that emerged this week after Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. The director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, also affirmed that he had knowledge of Edwards' arrest and the nature of the allegations against him, though not the specifics.

Addressing the initial allegations made by The Sun newspaper in July 2023, Dame Elan described the situation as a "sad story" and acknowledged that the media would naturally exploit the high-profile nature of the case surrounding Edwards. She emphasized the importance of ensuring Edwards' well-being and providing support to his family during that difficult time.

When approached for a comment regarding Edwards' guilty plea, Dame Elan declined to respond. However, in a subsequent written statement, she expressed shock and horror at the revelations that emerged during the court proceedings and extended her sympathies to the children whose images were at the center of the case.

The BBC initiated an internal investigation into allegations against Edwards, but the findings have not been made public. Newyddion S4C, a Welsh-language news program, submitted a freedom of information request earlier this year for any documentation related to the investigation. However, the BBC has not yet responded to their inquiry.

Huw Edwards, once one of Wales' most prominent public figures as the main presenter of BBC One's News at Ten, has now admitted to having 41 indecent and illegal images of children on his phone. Seven of these images fall into the most serious category, depicting children between the ages of seven and nine.

The news of Edwards' guilty plea has shocked the public, tarnishing the reputation of a respected newsreader who frequently covered major national events. While the specifics of the case have elicited outrage, Dame Elan's acknowledgment of Edwards' contribution to the BBC has raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the handling of such cases within the corporation.

As the scandal unfolds, the public awaits further developments regarding the internal investigation into Edwards' conduct. The impact of this controversy on the reputation of the BBC and its handling of sensitive matters remains to be seen.

Additional reporting by Bryn Jones.