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Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with making indecent images of children, the Metropolitan Police have said.
The 62-year-old veteran journalist, who left the BBC after 40 years in April, faces three charges relating to alleged activities between December 2020 and April 2022.
The offences are believed to be linked to images shared on WhatsApp, police said.
Edwards will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.
According to the indictment, Edwards is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B photos and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and an unlimited fine.
Police said Edwards was arrested on November 8 last year and charged just over a month ago, on June 26, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
“The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat.
“Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday 26 June following authorisation by the Crown Prosecution Service.
“He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 July.
“The media and the public are strongly reminded that this is an ongoing matter. No information should be published, including on social media, that could prejudice future legal proceedings.”
It comes less than a week after it was revealed that Edwards had received a £40,000 pay rise from the BBC over the past year, despite being suspended for most of that time.
In the company’s annual report, it was revealed that Edwards earned between £475,000 and £479,999, compared with £435,000 to £439,999 in the previous report.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said the pay rise was because the BBC was trying to act “proportionately”.
“I think that’s what we did and it ended in a conclusion, we all know that, but I think we wouldn’t have wasted money if we hadn’t done the right thing,” he said.
“As far as the pay increases before this came to light… You know, people are getting, as you’ve seen, overall, our pay increases are pretty good… But the people on the list would get pay increases for expanded responsibilities, and in fact, if they do more… So that’s pretty normal activity, and that’s what would drive the change.”
