Huw Edwards is set to sign a new BBC deal

2023-03-01

Huw Edwards is set to sign a new BBC deal months after he was praised for his reporting of the Queen’s death – and he’s expected to play a key role in the corporation’s coverage of King Charles’s coronation

The new deal is likely to be similar to his current pay of about £410,000 a year
Edwards, 61, is expected to agree to stay on at the BBC for up to three years

Huw Edwards is to sign a new deal with the BBC after praise for the way he led coverage of the Queen’s death, it is understood.

Edwards, 61, is one of the corporation’s most high-profile news presenters and is expected to agree to stay on for up to three more years.

He was seen at the offices of the BBC’s biggest radio rival – Global – in August. The News at Ten veteran admitted at the time he was ‘thinking about my future’.

Not long after this he led coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and her funeral. He was praised for the way he dealt with the incredibly sensitive story.

It is understood the new deal is likely to be broadly the same or slightly more than his current pay of about £410,000 a year.

Edwards, 61, is one of the corporation’s most high-profile news presenters and is expected to agree to stay on for up to three more years

Not long after this he led coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and her funeral, Edwards was praised for the way he dealt with the incredibly sensitive story

A report on industry website Deadline said BBC insiders were feeling optimistic over the likelihood that Edwards will stay. He is now expected to be key in its coronation coverage in May.

A new deal would end the prolonged speculation about his future at the corporation, having hinted in the past it might be time for him to move on.

In 2021 the news host had admitted he was thinking about his future on the News At Ten saying the ‘nightly news business’ could be ‘taxing’. He added it was also ‘fair’ for ‘viewers to get a change’ and also to give co-workers a chance.

There have been previous reports linking him with ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain.

But last autumn, following his work covering the Queen’s death, in an interview with the Radio Times, he promised not to ‘walk away’ from his role presenting News at Ten on BBC1. But he had admitted ‘ultimately, it’s not my decision’.

The BBC has seen numerous departures in recent years from the corporation’s news division, with the likes of Andrew Marr, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel leaving for a rival broadcaster.

The BBC declined to comment on whether he had signed a new deal.

Edwards was seen at the offices of the BBC’s biggest radio rival – Global – in August, and the News at Ten veteran admitted at the time he was ‘thinking about my future’

BBC journalists have voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to sabotage Budget Day coverage with a strike over plans to merge some local radio shows.
The National Union of Journalists yesterday announced that, following a ballot of regional BBC staff, a 24-hour strike will take place on March 15. Strikes hitting the coronation and local elections are being considered.

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