HUW Edwards should return his BBC salary after admitting accessing indecent images of children, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said.
Edwards was paid £200,000 after he was arrested in November while he was suspended by the broadcaster up until he resigned in April on medical advice.
On Wednesday, the 62-year-old BBC veteran pleaded guilty to three counts of making 41 indecent images of children.
Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said on Thursday the corporation was aware of Edwards’s arrest and the charges when it happened and was questioned over why he was not sacked and continued to receive his salary – the highest of anybody at BBC News.
He declared that the corporation had made "difficult decisions in a fair and judicious manner".
He added that the BBC will "look at all options" in trying to reclaim pay from Edwards.
Nandy told Sky News at the Paris Olympics on Friday: “I think he ought to return his salary.
"I think having been arrested on such serious charges all the way back in November, to continue to receive that salary all the way through until he resigned is wrong and it's not a good use of taxpayers' money.
"I think most people in the country will agree with that but whether he does that or not is up to him.
"My concern is to make sure that not only are we getting the decision right in this case but we're futureproofing the BBC so that when people come forward with concerns, when decisions like this have to be made we're open and transparent and we're fair and we use taxpayers money appropriately.”
The shamed ex-BBC presenter made his first public appearance on Wednesday since stepping down from his News at Ten role on July 5 last year.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, he confessed to creating indecent images of children between December 2020 and August 2021.
Edwards officially stepped down from the BBC after a 40-year tenure in April 2024.
