Huw Edwards resigns from the BBC on 'medical advice' after being off air since ... trends now
Huw Edwards has today resigned from his £439,000-a-year job at the BBC because of 'medical advice' from his doctors, the corporation has revealed.
Britain's most famous newsreader, 62, has been off air since last July after he was accused of paying a young person for sexually explicit images.
In February, the BBC apologised to the young person's family, who'd complained about Edwards two months before he was suspended, acknowledging that there had been 'shortcomings' in the way it had dealt with the case.
But the BBC said today that its star anchor, who broke the news of Queen Elizabeth II's death and presented coverage of most major national events, has left the BBC on health grounds.
There was no mention of allegations he sent more than £35,000 to a teenager in return for sexually explicit photographs.
A corporation spokesman said: 'Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC. After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.
'The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward'.
Edwards has never publicly commented in the nine months since he was suspended. MailOnline understands he received no pay off from the BBC - but had been paid his £439,000-a-year salary while he was suspended. He leaves with immediate effect.
Huw Edwards was last seen on the screen on July 5 last year when he covered King Charles' visit to Scotland (pictured). Nine months on he has left the BBC on health grounds
The broadcaster, 62, announced that the Queen had died in September 2022
In a statement released by Mr Edward's wife Vicky Flind last year, she said that he was receiving in-patient hospital care following the claims first reported in The Sun that he paid a teenager for explicit photographs
A mocked up version of a reported Instagram message exchange between the BBC star and a teenager
He was named by his own wife as the BBC star accused of paying £35,000 to a vulnerable teenager in return for explicit photographs - minutes after Scotland Yard dropped their probe into the allegations last year.
Vicky Flind issued the shock statement and revealed her husband, 61, who was last on screen on July 5 last year during the King's visit to Scotland, was 'suffering from serious mental health issues' following the claims that emerged in The Sun the following day.
Vicky and Huw and have five grown up children, brought up together in south London.
The Mail revealed this months that Huw has taken sanctuary in his beloved Wales and is being comforted in Carmarthenshire by his mother Aerona.
He was the corporation's highest paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £435,000 - £439,999 in the year 2022/2023, according to the corporation's most recent annual report.
This was up from £410,000 - £414,000 the year before, putting him fourth on the 2022/23 list.
He was accused of sending cash to a teenager in return for sexual photographs over three years, starting when the youth was 17. The teen is alleged to have use it to fund a crack cocaine habit.
The Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police both said that no criminal offence had been committed by the presenter in this case.
The newsreader has been off air since last July after reports claiming he paid a young person for sexually explicit images
The Mail understands the 62-year-old newsreader has taken sanctuary in his beloved Wales and is being comforted in Carmarthenshire by his mother Aerona (pictured)
Edwards, who until today was still reportedly receiving his full £439,000 salary, had seemed more accomplished than ever in the months preceding his suspension, earning lavish plaudits for his commentary on Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
There were even calls for him to be knighted.
Declaring that the idea 'embarrassed' him, Edwards prepared with trademark rigour for his role leading the BBC's coronation coverage. 'I'd be lying if I said I didn't practise in my own mind,' he explained.
'I'm often on the Tube thinking, 'What would I say if this happened?' or, 'What's the best turn of phrase for this?'
He also took care to ensure that he was in peak physical condition, resuming the punishing boxing sessions that saw
