Martin Clunes Takes on the Role of Huw Edwards in Channel 5 Drama About Former BBC News Anchor
Martin Clunes is set to portray disgraced ex-BBC News anchor Huw Edwards in an upcoming drama series produced by Paramount’s Channel 5, now known simply as 5.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards (working title) will delve into the story of a vulnerable 17-year-old who was groomed by one of television’s most powerful figures. Edwards was widely known as one of the UK’s most successful and highest-paid news anchors, responsible for delivering the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death to the nation.
The series will also examine Edwards’ double life as events took a disastrous turn. After it was revealed that he was the unnamed BBC presenter involved in paying a teenager for sexual images, he left the BBC and pleaded guilty to charges regarding the creation of indecent images of children, leading to a suspended prison sentence and his complete withdrawal from public life.
The British press closely followed the unfolding scandal, which severely damaged the BBC’s reputation. The organization is still working to recover funds paid to Edwards between his arrest and departure. This incident coincided with other misconduct scandals involving BBC talent, prompting two reviews of the organization’s procedures.
Watch on Deadline
Power marks a significant collaboration between 5’s factual and scripted commissioning teams and is the inaugural drama from Wonderhood Studios, led by former Channel 4 chief David Abraham.
“This is an important and shocking story – of how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status,” said Ben Frow, the content chief at 5. “By gaining exclusive access to the key individuals involved and those who investigated the story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines.”
Abraham added that the project “marks Wonderhood’s first step into drama and builds on our record in producing premium documentaries about challenging subjects that matter. 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.”
Clunes, renowned for his role in ITV’s Doc Martin over nearly two decades, has a history with Edwards. A Guardian diary entry from 2006 noted their joint appearance in a production for a Buckingham Palace garden party commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday.
Power is not the first project focused on a BBC personality; the BBC itself previously produced a drama about Jimmy Savile featuring Steve Coogan. In 2024, Netflix and Amazon also released projects addressing the controversial Prince Andrew Newsnight interview, starring Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson as Edwards’ former colleague Emily Maitlis.
Power is commissioned by Guy Davies and Paul Testar, co-produced with Krempelwood. The series is directed by Bafta and Emmy-winner Michael Samuels (The Windermere Children, Any Human Heart) and written by Mark Burt (The Trial). The production team includes producer Angie Daniell (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, Vigil), casting director Jenny Duffy, factual producer Louise Kentleton, and director of production Lianne Hickey, with executive producers Bafta-winner Samantha Anstiss and Tom Garton.
