Huw Edwards, the BBC’s chief newsreader, has been named by his wife as the presenter who was suspended over allegations of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos.
Vicky Flind issued a statement on Wednesday, saying her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now receiving in-patient hospital care.
She said he intended to respond to the stories that have been published once he was well enough to do so.
The Metropolitan Police said they had found no evidence of a criminal offence and had ended their assessment into the allegations.
The BBC said it was now resuming its investigation “whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved”.
The Sun newspaper reported that the unnamed presenter paid a young person for explicit photos beginning when they were 17.
A second young person told the BBC on Tuesday that the presenter sent them abusive messages, after making contact on a dating app.
And on Wednesday, the Sun made more allegations – including that the presenter broke lockdown rules in 2021 to meet someone from a dating site.
Edwards, who has been with the BBC for more than 30 years, was last seen on BBC One’s News at Ten on Wednesday 5 July, when he co-presented a special edition live from Edinburgh.
He was in the Scottish capital to bring viewers coverage of that day’s events – as the Coronation of King Charles III was formally recognised.
Edwards has previously spoken about his 20-year struggle with depression, which he said had left him “bedridden” at times.
