{"id":233240,"date":"2026-01-08T00:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T00:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/233240\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T00:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T00:04:08","slug":"martin-clunes-confirmed-for-new-british-drama-the-downfall-of-huw-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/233240\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin Clunes confirmed for new British drama The Downfall of Huw Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">5 has announced the two-part drama The Downfall of Huw Edwards and shared a first look photo from the project. It will star Doc Martin actor Martin Clunes as the former BBC News host whose dark revelations about his personal life led to a spectacular fall from grace.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">In 2023, The Sun published allegations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a44480790\/bbc-responds-presenter-accused-paying-teenager-explicit-photos\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a44480790\/bbc-responds-presenter-accused-paying-teenager-explicit-photos\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"that a BBC presenter had paid a young person\" data-node-id=\"4.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">that a BBC presenter had paid a young person<\/a> for sexually explicit photos. The BBC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/reality-tv\/a44484380\/bbc-presenter-suspended-explicit-photos-teenager\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/reality-tv\/a44484380\/bbc-presenter-suspended-explicit-photos-teenager\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"suspended the then unnamed male presenter in response\" data-node-id=\"4.5\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">suspended the then unnamed male presenter in response<\/a>, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a44520185\/huw-edwards-named-bbc-suspended-presenter\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a44520185\/huw-edwards-named-bbc-suspended-presenter\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"confirmed to be Edwards by his wife Vicky Flind\" data-node-id=\"4.7\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">confirmed to be Edwards by his wife Vicky Flind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Following a police investigation, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61727897\/bbc-huw-edwards-charged-indecent-images\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61727897\/bbc-huw-edwards-charged-indecent-images\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Edwards received three charges of making indecent images of children\" data-node-id=\"6.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Edwards received three charges of making indecent images of children<\/a> between December 2020 and April 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61748562\/huw-edwards-pleads-guilty-indecent-child-images\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61748562\/huw-edwards-pleads-guilty-indecent-child-images\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"He pleaded guilty\" data-node-id=\"6.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">He pleaded guilty<\/a> and was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a62221949\/huw-edwards-sentence-indecent-child-images\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a62221949\/huw-edwards-sentence-indecent-child-images\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"given a suspended sentence\" data-node-id=\"6.5\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">given a suspended sentence<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The Downfall of Huw Edwards has been in the works for over a year, with 5&#8217;s factual and scripted commissioning teams working together for the first time.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The extensive research included exclusive interviews with people involved in the story as it went public and evolved over the year, while the teams had access to material from The Sun&#8217;s investigation into Edwards.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"huw edwards in n9 news studio for the ten o clock news\" title=\"Huw Edwards in N9 news studio for the Ten O clock news\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3872\" height=\"2592\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/huw-edwards-news-at-ten-64aee4904fe8c.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jeff Overs\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61765677\/bbc-tim-davie-defends-huw-edwards-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a61765677\/bbc-tim-davie-defends-huw-edwards-decision\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"BBC boss defends &quot;fair and judicious&quot; decisions over Huw Edwards\" data-node-id=\"15.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC boss defends &#8220;fair and judicious&#8221; decisions over Huw Edwards<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">5&#8217;s boss Ben Frow said: &#8220;This is an important and shocking story \u2013 of how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;By gaining exclusive access to the key individuals involved and those who investigated the story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines. As a close collaboration between 5&#8217;s factual and scripted teams this is a first for the channel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"doc martin, martin clunes\" title=\"Doc Martin, Martin Clunes\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/doc-martin-martin-clunes-1573734880.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>ITV<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69915296\/waiting-for-the-out-streaming-bbc\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69915296\/waiting-for-the-out-streaming-bbc\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"BBC&#039;s new prison drama branded &quot;sensational&quot; and &quot;totally magnificent&quot; is streaming now\" data-node-id=\"22.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC&#8217;s new prison drama branded &#8220;sensational&#8221; and &#8220;totally magnificent&#8221; is streaming now<\/a> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Wonderhood Studios&#8217; David Abraham added: &#8220;This project marks Wonderhood\u2019s first step into drama and builds on our record in producing premium documentaries about challenging subjects that matter.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;Drama is also a medium with the power to uncover profound psychological truths, and we are incredibly grateful to our brave contributors in trusting us with their story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The Windemere Children and Any Human Heart&#8217;s Michael Samuels is directing the project, while The Trial&#8217;s Mark Burt has penned the script.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The Downfall of Huw Edwards does not have a release date yet.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767830648_296_6bf117e6-90c2-44bc-a2bb-92355b4636ba_1550228669.file.png\" alt=\"Headshot of Joe Anderton\" title=\"Headshot of Joe Anderton\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he&#8217;s covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TV<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">movies<\/a> both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I&#8217;m a Fish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"5 has announced the two-part drama The Downfall of Huw Edwards and shared a first look photo from&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233241,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[321,1105,119052,1107,93,61,60,1135,119051],"class_list":{"0":"post-233240","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-celebrities","9":"tag-content-type-news","10":"tag-contentid-d3379716-5193-40c9-a295-833b8fea281f","11":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-locale-gb","16":"tag-shorttitle-first-look-at-martin-clunes-in-huw-edwards-drama"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}