Bafta Updates Award Revocation Rules for Future, Huw Edwards’ Prizes Remain

The television and film organization Bafta has announced that former news presenter Huw Edwards will retain the awards he received, even as the body implements new regulations concerning individuals convicted of serious offenses going forward. Edwards secured seven individual accolades for his presenting work, all originating from Bafta’s Welsh division. He received a six-month suspended prison sentence in September, having pleaded guilty to charges concerning indecent images of children. Bafta’s updated regulations will permit the revocation of awards presented from 2025 onwards. The organization stated it “thought very carefully about whether we could try to apply this criteria retrospectively now,” but concluded that “it would be impossible to do this properly.” Edwards’ Bafta Cymru awards were earned for documentaries such as Aberfan – The Fight for Justice, The Story of Wales, and The Prince And The Plotter. In a communication to members, Bafta chair Sara Putt stated: “Earlier this year we were shocked by the news of the former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards’ arrest and subsequent conviction for child pornography offences.” He received seven individual Bafta Cymru awards for television presenting between the years 2002 and 2017. Her letter continued: “Following the news, deeply complex questions were raised regarding historic awards won by individuals and specifically, whether awards won in competition should ever be removed retrospectively.” Putt initiated a review, which determined that “there are exceptional grounds in which an award won in competition should be reviewed and possibly rescinded.” The organization intends to evaluate whether to revoke an award in cases of “proven dishonesty, and the very rare instance of a winner being convicted of a serious criminal offence resulting in a prison sentence.” Recipients might forfeit their awards if they are given a prison sentence of a minimum of three months, regardless of whether it is suspended, or if they are “proven to have used duplicitous and/or illegal methods in the course of making their work.” Nevertheless, these regulations will not be applicable to individuals who received awards prior to 2025. Putt elaborated, writing: “We thought very carefully about whether we could try to apply this criteria retrospectively now, or introduce a moratorium.” She further explained: “Our awards span the last 78 years. Where would we reasonably draw the line? Could we choose to only look back one, five or 50 years?” Putt added: “We agreed it would be impossible to do this properly. So we will look forward and apply this criteria to all competitive awards presented from 2025 onwards.” She concluded: “No solution is perfect and there may be instances where the outcomes of this review are tested in the future, so we will review these principles and processes along with our other awards rules every year.”