Huw Edwards leaves BBC on medical advice ( www.bbc.co.uk )

TV news presenter Huw Edwards has resigned from the BBC on "medical advice", the corporation has said.

The broadcaster has been off air since last July following newspaper reports claiming he paid a young person for sexually explicit images.

He was the BBC's most high-profile news anchor, often chosen to front coverage of major national events.

"Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC," a short statement said on Monday.

"After 40 years of service, Huw has explained that his decision was made on the basis of medical advice from his doctors.

"The BBC has accepted his resignation which it believes will allow all parties to move forward. We don't believe it appropriate to comment further."

His departure comes nine months after his wife said he had been admitted to hospital with "serious mental health issues".

Police did not take action against him, saying there was no evidence that a criminal offence had been committed.

The allegations arose when the Sun newspaper claimed an unnamed BBC presenter paid a young person for explicit photos, beginning when they were 17.

The paper's source was the mother and step-father of the young person, but a letter issued on the young person's behalf by a lawyer described their account as "rubbish".

The paper and the BBC also reported several further claims of inappropriate behaviour.

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Edwards, 62, has not publicly commented. He had been suspended since July.

The normal policy is that an employee receives full pay while suspended. He was the corporation's highest-paid newsreader, receiving between £435,000 and £439,999 in the year 2022/2023.

The BBC has confirmed that Edwards has not been paid off as part of his departure.