Shropshire Star

Huw Edwards considering future on News At Ten as he approaches 60th birthday

The veteran broadcaster described the job as ‘taxing’.

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Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards has revealed he is considering his future presenting the BBC’s News At Ten as he approaches his 60th birthday.

The veteran broadcaster, who celebrates the milestone this week, said he may step down from the “taxing” job.

“A time comes when you’re bound to re-assess what’s in front of you,” he told Radio Cymru in a Welsh-language interview.

Huw Edwards
BBC newsreader Huw Edwards may step down from his role presenting News At Ten (Chris Jackson/PA)

Edwards, who has been presenting News At Ten for 18 years, said: “Now that a big milestone is here, which is 60 years old, it’s natural for a man to think ‘am I going to continue in this job for another five years, or do I want to do something different?’

“The nightly news business, after 20 years, that can be taxing, even though I still enjoy the job.

“I don’t think I’ll be doing that for long. Because I believe that, in the first place, I think it’s fair for the viewers to get a change.

“Secondly, I have co-workers who are very talented – it’s time to give them a chance too.”

However, the Bridgend-born Edwards said he would not be giving up journalism entirely.

He said: “I won’t disappear tomorrow from the 10 o’clock news because I’m still enjoying myself.

Huw Edwards
Huw Edwards has fronted News At Ten for 18 years (BBC/PA)

“But of course, I’m thinking about the working patterns of the future. And the truth is that I don’t want to sustain these working patterns for a long time to come, because I don’t believe it’s a very wise thing at all.”

Edwards, who joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984, earned between £425,000 and £429,999 in 2020/2021, according to the broadcaster’s latest figures.

In 2018 it was reported he agreed to take a pay cut following revelations over unequal pay for men and women at the BBC.

In his Radio Cymru interview, he described the corporation’s decision to disclose salaries of staff who earn £150,000 or more per year as a “nightmare”.

“It has angered me, to be honest,” he said. “Not because I’m embarrassed about pay, especially because I took a huge cut years ago anyway.

“I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me. But if you do get a huge pay cut, it’s certainly going to affect you, your psychology and your attitude towards the work.

“Especially if you see co-workers getting large pay rises and you don’t quite understand why.”

Edwards added he did not accept people had a right to “stick their nose in other people’s business”.

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