Network Considers Re-Recording Soundtracks for State Occasions
The BBC is considering significant changes to its archival footage of royal events, potentially removing commentary by disgraced presenter Huw Edwards. Edwards, who admitted to possessing indecent images of children, has been a key figure in covering major state occasions, including the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III.
Sources suggest that the BBC may re-record expert commentary for these events to provide a new soundtrack, avoiding the use of Edwards’s voice. The anchor’s announcement of Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, which remains on BBC iPlayer, and other footage featuring Edwards are reportedly under review.
Insiders indicate that footage with Edwards may not be used in future programming, and his documentaries will continue to be banned from iPlayer and terrestrial repeats. Program makers looking to use footage of significant royal events might need to rely on altered recordings or avoid using original material with Edwards’s commentary.
However, there could be exceptions for archival content deemed crucial for historical reflection, where the original Edwards material might still be considered relevant for portraying the events as they were reported at the time.
The BBC has begun the process of removing Edwards from its platforms following his admission on July 31 of possessing 41 indecent images of children. This removal effort has already impacted various content, including an episode of Doctor Who in which Edwards appeared.
