The host was thanked by the BBC chairman after being arrested

Despite knowing that disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards had been arrested last November, the former BBC chairman publicly thanked him for his “huge contribution”.

Dame Ellan Close Stephens was appointed interim chair just weeks before The Sun first made allegations about Edwards’ private life and left the post shortly before Edwards resigned from the BBC in March this year.

Last month she also referred to him as “poor Hugh” on Welsh-language radio show Beti a’i Phobol.

In a statement to BBC-produced Newyddion S4C, Baroness Elam confirmed she was aware of the arrest in her capacity as interim BBC chair but was unaware of the “horrific details that have come to light this week” following his arrest. Pleaded guilty to three counts of making obscene images of children.

BBC Director General Tim Davie confirmed on Thursday that he was aware of Edwards’ arrest and the nature of the allegations against him last November, but not the details, and defended the corporation’s handling of the case.

On July 2, Dame Elan told the Welsh-language radio programme Beti a’i Phobol that she was “honoured to thank him (Edwards) personally for his huge contribution and for all the skills he has demonstrated, which will help his successor”.

Referring to the initial allegations about Edwards’ personal life published by The Sun in July 2023, before the subsequent criminal charges were brought against him, Baroness Elam said: “It is a sad story and it is obvious that The Sun will take full advantage of it because poor Hugh is so famous.”

“Of course, the Queen’s death, funeral and coronation all happened within a few months of each other.

“Of course, the first thing is to make sure Hugh is OK and that his family is cared for and protected.

“More importantly, they obviously reached the deal after my term (as BBC chairman) ended, so the matter is a personal one.”

BBC Wales initially contacted Baroness Elam for her response to Edwards’ guilty plea on Wednesday. She declined to comment.

After Edwards pleaded guilty this week, Newyddion S4C subsequently asked her if she stood by her comments on the “Beti a’i Phobol” programme.

In her written statement, she did not address that directly.

Baroness Elam said she was shocked by the revelations in court and that she was “horrified by it all”.

She added that her “heart goes out to the images of the children in the story.”

Newyddion S4C has also asked the BBC whether Baroness Elam had been informed of Edwards’ arrest last November and the nature of the investigation, but has yet to receive a response.

The BBC launched an internal investigation into the allegations about Edwards’ conduct, but the findings have yet to be made public.

Newyddion S4C lodged a Freedom of Information request earlier this year seeking any records or correspondence relating to the investigation.

The application was rejected on May 20 on the grounds of breach of data protection laws relating to personal data.

After The Sun published its initial report, police confirmed no crime had been committed.

But Edwards was arrested last November on suspicion of making obscene images of children.

Mr Davey confirmed he was aware of Edwards’ arrest and the nature of the charges against him but was not aware of the specific details revealed this week and said police had requested that the information remain confidential.

Edwards was indicted in June, but no information was released until this week in a court filing.

He admitted having 41 indecent and illegal images of children on his phone.

Seven of the images fell into the most serious category, and two depicted children aged around seven to nine.

Until last year, Edwards was one of Wales’ most visible public figures, serving as the main presenter of BBC One’s News at Ten and regularly reporting on major national events.

He pleaded guilty to three charges. Making indecent photos of children Wednesday.

Additional reporting by Bryn Jones