Friends and colleagues of Huw Edwards have reacted with shock to the statement released by his wife.
Vicky Flind named her husband as the BBC presenter facing a series of claims, including that he paid a teenager for explicit images.
Ms Flind said the presenter was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now “receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.
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Podcast host Jon Sopel, former North America editor of BBC News, called the scandal “an awful and shocking episode” and said the presenter’s “complicated private life” does not “feel very private now”.
“I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish @thehuwedwards well,” he tweeted.
The BBC’s world affairs editor John Simpson said he feels “so sorry for everyone involved in this”.
He added: “No criminal offences were committed, so it’s a purely personal tragedy for everyone involved. Let’s hope the press leave them all alone now.”
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Meanwhile, former Downing Street head of communications Alistair Campbell said the presenter “is the perfect target for those who would undermine and indeed would like to destroy the BBC”.