Ofcom launches probe into Huw Edwards drama Power - after disgraced BBC star made 'fairness' complaint to watchdog

Published: 11:38 EDT, 19 October 2026 | Updated: 11:46 EDT, 19 October 2026 Channel 5's Huw Edwards drama starring Martin Clunes is being probed by Ofcom after the disgraced ex-newsreader made a complaint about 'fairness and privacy'.Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards was shown in March this year, depicting how the BBC's former flagship news presenter was given a suspended jail sentence for making indecent images of children and also interacted with a youngster 'Ryan'.Convicted paedophile Edwards, 65, previously criticised the two-part series for being 'one-sided' and promised a 'challenge'. And he today told the Daily Mail how he welcomed the update from media watchdog Ofcom, confirming he made the complaint and how he hoped it would be considered 'objectively'.Channel 5 said it would be 'robustly defending' the series that was produced along with Wonderhood Studios. Edwards pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images in July 2024, for which he was given a suspended six-month prison sentence that September.Among the pictures were seven category A images – the most serious classification – sent to him on WhatsApp by convicted sex offender Alex Williams. Married father-of-five Edwards was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates' Court, with campaign groups angry he was not jailed and the sentence could not be reviewed as only those handed down at crown courts can be. Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards in the Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. The two-part series is now under investigation by media watchdog Ofcom after a complaint Edwards, 65, is seen outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in September 2024 - he received a suspended jail term after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children Former BBC newsreader Edwards was arrested in November 2023 by the Metropolitan PoliceClunes, whose previous series have included lighter fare such as Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin, won critical acclaim for his performance in the Channel 5 show. As well as Edwards' conviction for the sharing of images from Alex Williams, it also featured a vulnerable 17-year-old character known as 'Ryan' who accused the broadcaster of grooming him and offering to pay for indecent photos.Edwards said in his statement today to the Daily Mail: 'I am relieved that Ofcom has seen fit to investigate the "factual drama" made by Channel 5 and Wonderhood Studios.'I make absolutely no excuses for my interactions with "Ryan" and will always feel deep remorse for having responded to his messages. Ryan was not a "minor". He was an adult. He was also a blackmailer.'The drama gave viewers a wholly misleading and unfair version of events. I was not given a fair opportunity to respond to the many inaccuracies and fabrications in the programme.'I can say no more at this stage. I hope Ofcom is allowed to consider my complaint objectively, free from intimidation from hostile parts of the press.'An Ofcom spokeswoman said today: 'We are investigating a fairness and privacy complaint about this programme.'A 5 spokesman said: 'We stand by the programme and will be robustly defending this complaint.'The channel previously defended the drama in March this year, describing it as being 'based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting'.A spokesman added: 'It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom's Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.'Barry Tomes, a publicist who has provided representation for Edwards, told the Daily Mail today: 'Since the initial furore surrounding the broadcast of the docudrama, I have been offered many TV and interviews - Edwards has turned them all down.'He originally discussed with me at great length the inaccuracies in the docudrama and he intended to put the record straight.'He also complained that they only approached him for comment after the programme had been recorded.'Edwards resigned from the BBC in April 2024 on medical advice, having been off air since the previous July after allegations of paying a young person for sexually explicit images.The other two broadcasts under new Ofcom investigation over 'fairness and privacy'were both broadcast on August 18 this year: Granada News Reports on ITV1 and Olivia Attwood: The Price Of Perfection on ITV2.READ MORE: Huw Edwards breaks cover to the Mail on eve of Channel 5 dramaREAD MORE: Review: This drama leaves us in no doubt about Edwards' depths