4 months ago
Martin Clunes and Paramount’s Channel 5 (now 5) are teaming up connected a play bid astir disgraced ex-BBC News anchor Huw Edwards.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards [working title] will research nan communicative of really a susceptible 17-year-old was groomed by 1 of nan astir powerful figures successful television, who was 1 of nan UK’s astir successful and good paid anchors and nan personification who delivered nan news astir nan decease of Queen Elizabeth II to nan nation.
Power will research Edwards’ double life arsenic things spiral retired of control. After he was yet revealed to beryllium nan unnamed BBC prima who was paying a teen for intersexual pictures, he subsequently near nan BBC and pled guilty to making indecent images of children, which led to a suspended situation sentence and his full exit from nationalist life.
The British property followed nan communicative pinch keen liking and nan ungraded was a stain connected nan BBC, which is still trying to recoup nan money Edwards was paid betwixt his apprehension and his BBC exit. It came astatine a akin clip to a number of different scandals relating to apical BBC talent and misconduct claims, while starring to 2 reviews into nan corporation’s processes.
Power is nan first collaboration betwixt 5’s actual and scripted commissioning teams and nan first play to travel from Wonderhood Studios, nan indie tally by erstwhile Channel 4 leader David Abraham.
“This is an important and shocking communicative – of really a man successful a position of powerfulness and spot betrayed that status,” said 5 contented leader Ben Frow. “By gaining exclusive entree to nan cardinal individuals progressive and those who investigated nan story, we research nan quality costs down nan headlines.”
Abraham said nan task “marks Wonderhood’s first measurement into play and builds connected our grounds successful producing premium documentaries astir challenging subjects that matter.” “Drama is besides a mean pinch nan powerfulness to uncover profound psychological truths, and we are incredibly grateful to our brave contributors successful trusting america pinch their story,” he added.
Clunes, nan man chosen to represent Edwards, is champion known for starring ITV’s Doc Martin for astir 20 years. That show has conscionable been remade successful nan U.S. for Fox titled Best Medicine, which stars Clunes arsenic Dr. Robert Best. It appears that Clunes and Edwards’ paths person crossed before. A Guardian diary entry from 2006 reported that they starred successful a show astatine a Buckingham Palace plot statement celebrating nan 80th day of Queen Elizabeth II.
Power is by nary intends nan first task astir a BBC star. The BBC itself made a play bid astir Jimmy Savile starring Steve Coogan. In 2024, some Netflix and Amazon aired projects astir nan infamous Prince Andrew Newsnight interview starring Gillian Anderson and Ruth Wilson respectively arsenic Edwards’ erstwhile workfellow Emily Maitlis.
Power is commissioned by Guy Davies and Paul Testar, and co-produced pinch programme financiers Krempelwood. The series is directed by Bafta and Emmy-winner Michael Samuels (The Windermere Children, Any Human Heart) and written by Mark Burt (The Trial). The shaper is Angie Daniell (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, Vigil), nan casting head is Jenny Duffy, nan actual shaper is Louise Kentleton and head of accumulation is Lianne Hickey. The executive producers are Bafta-winner Samantha Anstiss and Tom Garton.
