Former news anchor Huw Edwards has been absent from screens since July 2023 and quit the BBC earlier this year.

Jeremy Clarkson has waded in on the conversation surrounding former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards and his £40k salary increase, despite not being on  television screens since last summer.

Huw resigned from the BBC after 40 years in April and his final ever broadcast took place on July 5 2023 during a report in Edinburgh.

He recently plead guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

The 62-year old was one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters and was recently revealed to have earned between £475,000 and £479,999 in the 2023-24 financial year.

BBC’s Director General Tim Davie has now been slammed by Jeremy Clarkson, who called for Edwards to pay back the hefty sum. He wrote in his column in The Sun that it can be paid back with “a fine.”

Jeremt penned: “There seems to be some discussion about how we can get our hands on the £200,000 of our money that was paid to Huw Edwards by the BBC after his arrest last year.

“According to Tim Davie, the Director-General of the Beeb, it’s fraught with difficulties. But is it? Why not have a quiet word with the judge who sentences Edwards and suggests that, in addition to whatever punishment he has in mind, a fine might be in order?

“A fine of ooh, let’s think – £200,000?”

The BBC confirmed that Edwards was not paid off as part of his departure. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also urged for Edwards to return his salary after pleading guilty.

She said: “I think he ought to return his salary.

“I think having been arrested on such serious charges all the way back in November, to continue to receive that salary all the way through until he resigned is wrong and it’s not a good use of taxpayers’ money.

“I think most people in the country will agree with that but whether he does that or not is up to him.”
After his high-profile departure from the BBC earlier this year, former news anchor Huw Edwards has remained out of the public eye. However, the controversy surrounding his £40k salary increase continues to make headlines.

Despite not being on television screens since last summer, Jeremy Clarkson has weighed in on the situation, criticizing the hefty sum that Edwards received before his resignation.

Following his 40-year career with the BBC, Huw’s final broadcast took place in July 2023 during a report in Edinburgh.

However, his professional reputation took a major hit when he pled guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

As one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters, Edwards earned between £475,000 and £479,999 in the 2023-24 financial year, adding fuel to the ongoing debate regarding his salary.

BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie, has come under fire for allowing Edwards to receive such a significant sum despite his legal troubles.

Jeremy Clarkson, in a scathing critique, suggested that Edwards should repay the money with a substantial fine.

He emphasized the need for accountability and justice in handling the situation, urging the authorities to take action against Edwards.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also joined the chorus of voices calling for Edwards to return his salary.

Nandy expressed disappointment in the misuse of taxpayers’ money, stating that it was inappropriate for Edwards to continue receiving his salary after his arrest.

The public sentiment aligns with Nandy’s stance, with many agreeing that Edwards should take responsibility for his actions.As the debate rages on, the outcome remains uncertain.

Will Huw Edwards heed the calls to repay his salary, or will he maintain his silence on the matter?

The controversy surrounding his financial compensation serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the media industry. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.