Huw Edwards hits out at new Channel 5 series, claiming they ‘made no attempt to check’ the ‘truth’

Huw Edwards has slammed Channel 5's new drama series Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, based on his "downfall" from grace, after he was sentenced for possessing indecent images of children.

The new series, which is expected to be aired tomorrow evening (24 March) on Channel 5, stars Martin Clunes as newsreader Edwards, who pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children in 2024.

And now ahead of the drama's release, Edwards has attacked the series in a new interview with the Daily Mail.

Speaking to the publication, Edwards claimed: "[They - Channel 5] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.

"They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response. They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions. Channel 5’s 'factual drama' is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened."

Edwards told the Daily Mail he had not seen any of the series ahead of its release tomorrow evening.

A spokesperson for Channel 5 told the Daily Mail: "Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is 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. 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."

Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards in new Channel 5 drama

Edwards went onto explain he will be sharing his own account of the "terrible events" and opened up about his mental health struggles.

"I have been open about my struggle with persistent mental illness over a period of 25 years. What is less well known is the severity of that condition, which was managed successfully until the downward spiral which led to an appalling outcome," he told the publication. "Mental illness is misunderstood by many but can never be an excuse for criminality. It can, however, at least help explain why people sometimes behave in shocking and reprehensible ways, and why things fell apart for me in the way they did."

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards airs on Channel 5 tomorrow night at 9pm.