Huw Edwards once sent me these very scary messages | UK | News
Huw Edwards sent me naughty messages – now they make my blood run cold, says Sam Stevenson (Image: BBC/EXPRESS)
About four years ago, early in my career, I wanted to network and keep up to date with current events as much as possible.
Like many others of my generation, my first concern was to follow as many leading industry figures on Twitter as possible.
These were people I respected and hoped to one day emulate. I wanted to learn from them and perfect my craft.
Then one day, as if by chance, a few minutes after following him, one of my best models followed me, to my great joy.
It was Huw Edwards, the head of the BBC.
READ MORE: BBC clarifies silence on Huw Edwards’ arrest after knowing about it for months
A few minutes after following him, Huw Edwards followed me back. (Image: X)
He was probably the most famous TV news presenter in Britain. I couldn’t have been more delighted.
It was huge. I didn’t expect him to notice that I followed him, much less follow me back. I had to pinch myself.
After only three years in journalism, this could be a brilliant opportunity. He must have seen on my profile that I was a young journalist, which made the situation even more electrifying. As an ambitious young journalist, having someone of such gravity acknowledge my existence was a real masterstroke.
Then, a few seconds later, a friendly message arrived: “Latecomers welcome, Sam,” followed by a “praying hands” emoji and a yellow “smiling face” emoji.
An adrenaline rush followed.
I happened to be in Tenerife on holiday, enjoying the winter sun, and I excitedly ran over to my half-brother who was playing golf with me at the time: “Huw Edwards! He’s just sent me a message on Twitter!”
EXCLUSIVE: BBC boss Tim Davie told to resign over Huw Edwards shaming
I didn’t expect a message from Huw Edwards that day in late November. (Image: Sam Stevenson)
I was on holiday in Tenerife enjoying the winter sun on a golf course (Image: Sam Stevenson)
“Huw Edwards! He just sent me a message on Twitter!” (Image: X)
Was I special? Why on earth would a celebrity 32 years my senior, with nearly 200,000 followers to my 1,000, want to talk to me? How was I supposed to react? I had to react.
It was one of the most recognisable faces in British journalism speaking directly to 27-year-old me. But all I could say at that moment was: “Haha, thanks for following me, Huw! I’m a big fan of your work” with a thumbs-up emoji to maintain the cheeky tone he’d established.
He “reacted” to my message by giving me a thumbs-up and offering a direct, but informal, response: “Thanks, Sam. Stay in touch. H.”
At the time, I wasn’t sure what to make of it all. I immediately thought that I had made a great connection. But knowing what we know now, the reality may have been more sinister.
Reflecting on it later that day, it was clear from her playful and easygoing demeanor, the flirtatious nature of her initial message, the liberal use of emojis, the seemingly random over-familiarity, and the plea to “stay in touch,” that something was wrong.
When I think back to the messages Huw Edwards sent me, my blood runs cold. (Image: BBC)
All I could say at that point was, “Haha, thanks for following me, Huw! I’m a big fan of your work.” (Image: X)
And then I started to feel a little uncomfortable. This cheerful tone was coming from someone who was well respected and was broadcast on television screens across the country.
It didn’t seem fair.
And then I realized. Huw Edwards, the Huw Edwards, was flirting with me in private. Thinking back, it makes my blood run cold.
Indeed, a quick look at Dictionary.com explains the meaning of the “smirking face” emoji: “Adding this emoji to a text indicates that you are flirting or sending a suggestive message.” And “Emojipedia” says it is “often used to express flirtation or sexual innuendo.”
But I wasn’t the only one.
Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court, London (Image: PA)
Recent reports suggest that the now-disgraced Edwards monster regularly approached young male colleagues on the BBC newsroom and invited them for drinks. A BBC source has since claimed that bosses “turned a blind eye” to protect the reputation of their most famous news star, now a convicted sex offender.
And the fact that he admitted in court that he solicited unspeakable images of child abuse from a 25-year-old convicted pedophile makes his flirtatious advances toward me even more disturbing.
Edwards, whose 2023-24 salary stood at nearly £480,000 last week, received a staggering £40,000 pay rise from the BBC before this latest scandal broke.
Yet my aunt was aware that Mr Edwards, 62, had been arrested before the increase was agreed, saying in a statement: “At the time, no charges were brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been informed of the significant risk to his health.”
To do so, the country’s most revered broadcaster must answer some serious questions.
For my part, I am relieved to have managed to avoid it. Others were not so lucky.
Indeed, the “disgusted” mother who exposed the presenter’s behaviour in a newspaper article last year has since said: “I knew he was an abuser but now I know he really is a monster.” Her concerns for her vulnerable teenage son’s welfare are now entirely justified.
But Edwards’ victims will always seek closure.
For them, justice must be done.
