CULTURE Secretary Lisa Nandy was expected to grill BBC director-general Tim Davie today over the corporation’s knowledge of Huw Edwards’ indecent child image offences.

On Wednesday the veteran broadcaster admitted to accessing indecent images of children and faces sentencing in September.

The BBC said it knew of his arrest on “suspicion of serious offences” in November, but continued employing him until April.

Questions have been raised over why he continued to receive his large salary, as the highest-paid newsreader at the corporation, for five months after his arrest.

The BBC’s latest annual report shows Edwards was paid between £475,000 and £479,999 for the year 2023/24 before he resigned in April on medical advice.

The BBC has said that if Edwards had been charged while he was still an employee it would have sacked him, but at the point of charge he no longer worked for the corporation.

After his guilty plea on Wednesday, a BBC spokesperson said: “In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation.

“At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.

“The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today.

“There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.”

Mr Davie was expected to hold urgent talks with Ms Nandy over the phone today, according to BBC News.