The Loose Women panel have been praised for making the decision not to discuss the Huw Edwards scandal.
On Wednesday evening, the journalist was named as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
The 61-year-old has been one of the prominent faces of the national broadcaster, reporting on royal family events and pivotal political moments for decades.
His wife, Vicky Flind, issued a statement on his behalf sharing that he was ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’ and was also now receiving in-patient hospital care where he was set to stay ‘for the foreseeable future’.
Follow the latest news on the BBC presenter scandal on Metro.co.uk’s live blog.
Follow the latest news on the Huw Edwards BBC presenter scandal on Metro.co.uk’s live blog.
She also asked that, in the circumstances and given his condition, that ‘the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected’.
It was a request that Thursday’s Loose Women panel – consisting of Kaye Adams, Coleen Nolan, Sophie Morgan and Denise Welch – chose to respect.
When starting the show Kaye offered an update on the news story.
‘Yesterday evening, and I have no doubt you will be aware of it, Huw Edwards was named by his wife as the BBC presenter at the centre of the media storm following allegations against him,’ she said to the camera, before reading out Vicky’s statement.
She then added: ‘It’s impossible for us to know what his family is going through in that situation and Vicky has asked that their privacy is respected, so that is what we are going to do and we are going to leave that one there.’
Vicky Flind’s statement in full, on behalf of her husband Huw Edwards
‘In light of the recent reporting regarding the “BBC Presenter” I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.
‘I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.
‘Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.
‘The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.
‘Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.
‘In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.
‘I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation.
‘We hope this statement will bring that to an end.’
It was a decision clearly supported by the studio audience, who clapped as she finished speaking, while some watching on at home also backed the choice not to discuss it further.
‘That was dealt with in a really, really respectful way just now on Loose Women regarding Huw. Well done all in how you spoke about it,’ a viewer posted on Twitter.
‘Touch of class,’ another added.
In her statement Vicky explained how the past five days had been ‘extremely difficult’ for the family and she wanted to release a statement ‘out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children’.
She explained that when her husband was ‘well enough’ to respond to the allegations, he intended to, whilst also adding that he was ‘deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation’.
Today the Metropolitan Police confirmed there was no evidence to indicate a criminal offence has been committed.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1.
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MORE : Lorraine Kelly defends Huw Edwards’ wife over crushing BBC statement: ‘It was the right thing to do’
MORE : TV Editor and mother of five: Inside the professional and personal life of Hue Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind
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