A man has accused Huw Edwards of “trying to groom him” while he was still at school.
Emyr, not his real name, has accused the disgraced ex-broadcaster of behaving inappropriately towards him while he was a sixth form student.
The young man was 18 when he says the former BBC News at Ten presenter sent him “suggestive messages” and invited him to visit the BBC headquarter’s in London.
Speaking anonymously on S4C’s current affairs programme, Y Byd ar Bedwar, Emyr spoke of how the pair first met at a community concert where Edwards was the compère, and Emyr was performing in his school uniform.
“He came up to me at the end of the night to say hello. He said that the performance was good, that I was very talented and that he wanted to connect with me.”
Emyr alleges that the broadcaster told him that he could help him with his music career and they followed eachother on Instagram, where they began to chat.
Edwards would often call the teenager “babe” and “big boy”, attaching hearts and kisses to the ends of his messages.
“He asked me if I wanted to meet him in London and have a tour of the BBC, where I could meet a few contacts,” Emyr claimed.
He added that he accepted the invitation and was walked around the newsroom by Edwards, being introduced to his colleagues as a “friend” who had a “musical talent”.
“Just because I was with Huw Edwards, I could walk in without a problem,” he told the programme. “I don’t remember anyone asking me why I was there.”
He says he was promised opportunities to perform at concerts in London, which never happened.
Emyr thought that Edwards’ was being “banterous”, but upon reflection, he now sees their communication as inappropriate.
“He was trying to flirt,” he claimed. “It was some sort of grooming communication.”
Emyr said the messages between them stopped after a few months and Edwards unfollowed him.
“He just lost interest in me,” he added. “I don’t think I gave him what he was looking for. People like him believe they can do whatever they want, and abuse their power.
“I feel very sad for the people who have been affected worse than me. I feel lucky in a way. It’s completely disgusting.”
Huw Edwards did not respond to Y Byd ar Bedwar’s request for a response. Edwards, 63, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children in September 2024.
