Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is Channel 5’s new "unflinching drama” about the disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards, who was convicted in 2024 for making indecent images of children.
The two-part feature length series depicts "the newsreader’s double life as it spirals out of control” leading to “his total exit from public life following his conviction for serious child sexual offences", according to Channel 5.
If you’re eager to learn more about the characters, here’s a full explanation of the real-life figures featured in the piece, and the actors playing them.
The cast of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards includes:
- Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards
- Osian Morgan as 'Ryan Davies'
- Sian Reese-Williams as Carys
- Claire Calbraith as Victoria Newton
- Ben Bishop as Ben O'Driscoll
- Chanel Cresswell as Scarlet Howes
The cast of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards
Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards
Who is Huw Edwards? Huw Edwards is the disgraced former BBC newsreader who was convicted for possessing indecent images of children. He was a household name as the lead for the BBC's News at Ten, but then later resigned in 2024. He plead guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
What else has Martin Clunes been in? Martin is known for playing the title character in Doc Martin, as well as starring in Out There, Manhunt, Men Behaving Badly and Nativity 3, among others. Recently, he starred alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights.
Osian Morgan as 'Ryan Davies'
Who is 'Ryan Davies'? Given a false name to protect his identity, 'Ryan Davies' is the 17-year-old who Edwards groomed into sharing explicit content.
What else has Osian Morgan been in? Osian Morgan is a Welsh actor who played Josh Cope in Emmerdale back in 2024. He’s best known for his roles in Welsh soap, Pobol Y Cwm, Waterloo Road, Ruby Speaking, Kidnapped and Under Salt Marsh.
Sian Reese-Williams as Carys
Who is Carys? Carys is the mother of 'Ryan', the 17-year-old groomed by Edwards.
What else has Sian Reese-Williams been in? Welsh actress Sian Reese-Williams has appeared as Cadi John in Hidden and Sergeant Jane Cafferty in Line of Duty. She’s also got lots of Welsh TV credits, including Y Golau, Craith, and Y Gwyll.
Clare Calbraith as Victoria Newton
Who is Victoria Newton? Victoria Newton is the current Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspaper. She oversaw the paper during the investigations into Huw Edwards, for which The Sun’s reporting was instrumental.
What else has Clare Calbraith been in? Clare Calbraith is a familiar face on British TV, having starred in shows like Vera, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Missing, Home Fires, The Shadow Line and Downton Abbey.
Ben Bishop as Ben O'Driscoll
Who is Ben O’Driscoll? Ben O'Driscoll is the executive news editor at The Sun newspaper, known for his involvement in breaking the investigation into Huw Edwards.
What else has Ben Bishop been in? Ben Bishop has featured in TV drama Whitechapel, horror film Don’t Look Back!, and Planet of the Apes, among others.
Chanel Cresswell as Scarlet Howes
Who is Scarlet Howes? Scarlet Howes is an award-winning reporter for The Sun, accredited for breaking the story that Edwards had been paying a 17-year-old boy thousands of pounds in exchange for sexual pictures.
What else has Chanel Cresswell been in? Chanel Cresswell is a BAFTA winner for her role in This Is England and its subsequent series. She’s also been in The Gentleman, Death in Paradise, The Aliens and Vardy V Rooney.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards airs tonight (Tuesday March 24) on Channel 5.
