Wonderhood Studios to produce debut scripted project on disgraced BBC newsreader

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes headlines the shocking story of the demise of one of TV’s most well-known figures, newsreader Huw Edwards, in a landmark drama commission from 5.

The two-part project, currently titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, is producer Wonderhood Studio’s drama debut and the first collaboration between 5’s factual and scripted commissioning teams.

Clunes will take on the role of Edwards who sees his double life as a respected face of BBC news spiral out of control following a conviction for serious child sexual offences and his subsequent major announcement he would be exiting public life.

In September 2022, Edwards was one of Britain’s most trusted newsreaders, handed the responsibility of making the historic declaration of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

At the same time, Edwards was secretly soliciting explicit sexual photos from young men including a vulnerable 17-year-old. Separately, he had struck up an online friendship with a man who repeatedly sent him messages containing child abuse imagery, including the most extreme ‘category A’ images, which he accessed and for which he received a suspended jail sentence.

Wonderhood’s drama is built on extensive factual research over the past 12 months, including first-hand interviews and co-operation from those at the heart of the scandal and exclusive access to The Sun newspaper’s award-winning investigation into Edwards.

5’s chief content officer Ben Frow described the drama as “an important and shocking story.”

“By gaining exclusive access to the key individuals involved and those who investigated the story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines,” he added. “As a close collaboration between 5’s factual and scripted teams this is a first for the channel.”

Wonderhood chief exec David Abraham said the scripted two-parter “builds on our record in producing premium documentaries about challenging subjects that matter”.

He continued: “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.”

5’s consultant editor for commissioning Guy Davies ordered the series alongside scripted commissioning editor Paul Testar.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards (w/t) is co-produced with programme financiers Krempelwood, directed by Michael Samuels (The Windermere Children, Any Human Heart) and written by Mark Burt (The Trial).

The producer is Angie Daniell (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story) and the casting director is Jenny Duffy. The factual producer is Louise Kentleton and director of production is Lianne Hickey. Samantha Anstiss and Tom Garton exec produce for Wonderhood.