Funny things, pedestals. When some people are perceived to be on one, it goes to their heads and they become frightfully grand. But Huw Edwards<\/a>, the 61-year old anchor of BBC News, who has every right to be on one, continues to be (a) normal and (b) funny, even after flawlessly informing and reassuring the entire nation during his marathon ten-day coverage of the death and funeral of the Queen.<\/p>\n We know it was rehearsed, and Edwards knew the gig was his. But when it actually happened, was he nervous? \u201cI do get quite nervous when I\u2019m broadcasting sometimes,\u201d says Edwards, who has fronted the BBC\u2019s News at Ten for nearly 20 years. \u201cI can\u2019t work out why. But this time, I was very calm and not nervous at all, I think because I was really focused on getting it right. Also I had [royal correspondent] Nicholas Witchell with me in the studio, and he\u2019s the best in the business.\u201d<\/p>\n But how considerable was the pressure of telling the nation, indeed the waiting world, that the Queen had died? \u201cIt was 30 seconds of air time. And we all knew the announcement had to be right. With the right tone, the right demeanour, everything. You desperately want to get it right and not let anyone down.\u201d<\/p>\n Were you emotional?<\/a> \u201cNot in terms of struggling to speak, but I was sad, because I felt I was announcing the end of something very special, something that really meant a lot to people. It was the end of an era in British history, the end of a presence that has been with many people throughout their entire lives, and the removal of a person who was a source of reassurance and constancy. I felt very strongly that it was a big moment.\u201d<\/p>\n A lot has been made about who knew the news, and for how long, before the nation was told at 6.30pm. How far in advance did Edwards know it? \u201cAbout ten seconds before,\u201d he says. I challenge him on the notion that he only found out more or less when we all did. Did he not put a black tie on at around lunchtime? Apparently not. \u201cIt was a navy tie,\u201d counters Edwards. \u201cA dark navy tie, which then became a black tie after the confirmation on the wires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy colleagues were brilliant,\u201d he says. \u201cUsually, when you have a breaking story there\u2019s a lot of shouting in your ear from the gallery, saying, \u2018Go to the news, go to the news,\u2019 but this time was different. The announcement came up on the wires and the gallery said, \u2018The announcement is here. Take your time. Speak when you are ready. Don\u2019t rush.\u2019 So I was able to pause for a few seconds, to make sure I would do it flawlessly, to ensure I was happy with the announcement being in place, to check that it was correctly on the autocue. The important thing was that it had to be done properly. So I paused, and only then did I do it.\u201d<\/p>\n He says the run-up to the official announcement of the Queen\u2019s death was more stressful. \u201cNick and I were broadcasting for five hours before that. When you\u2019re filling airtime like that, the capacity for making mistakes is limitless, and we could have been filling for another four hours.\u201d After the announcement, a broadcasting marathon ensued. \u201cEvery day seemed to melt into the next, with programmes of five to six hours each day as the coffin left Balmoral, went to Edinburgh, went to London, the Queen lay in state, and then the state funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n How did he manage? \u201cMy spare time was limited, but in between I did some long walks, and a couple of boxing sessions.\u201d (Edwards famously keeps in shape thanks to workouts in the boxing ring and the sport has helped him through bouts of depression.)<\/p>\n During the funeral, he decided to say less rather than more. \u201cI think that was a good call, keeping the commentary to a minimum.\u201d Indeed, and not just because it lent an enormous air of respect and solemnity to the proceedings. \u201cWith all those hours on air, I was desperate not to make a terrible mistake. When you are on for that long, and tired, you are very nervous about tripping up.\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t put a foot wrong. Indeed, there\u2019s a rumour (given a tabloid headline Suits Huw Sir), that he has been cited for a knighthood following his faultless performance. \u201cExcitable journalism\u201d is his analysis of this. \u201cI am embarrassed by it. I have been involved in nominating people for honours and, in a few cases, people who have spent a lifetime giving time to deserving causes and don\u2019t get anything. So, although I don\u2019t mean it disrespectfully, the idea of a knighthood embarrasses me.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet plaudits for Edwards came from all quarters, bar one. \u201cMy mum kept on messaging me saying, \u2018You look exhausted, there are huge bags under your eyes.’\u201d At least she wasn\u2019t commenting on his famous scowl, which is usually rolled out at least once during a normal bulletin. It seems this is a rather sore point with the Welshman.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t try to scowl but that\u2019s how I do it. I don\u2019t think of myself as a severe person, but the job lends itself to seriousness. I often turn up for events and one of the first things people say with surprise is that I have a good sense of humour.\u201d And a twinkle in his eye, particularly when his home nation is mentioned (he was born and raised in Bridgend, Glamorgan). \u201cOh, I do love mentioning Wales, as long as it\u2019s a happy story, of course,\u201d he says. \u201cIf it\u2019s anything to do with Welsh sports success, I can\u2019t contain myself.\u201d<\/p>\n As anyone who has worked alongside Edwards will know, he has a true cultural hinterland. I once bumped into him on a train bound for Hull, where he was going to play the organ, one of the largest in Britain, at the City Hall. Indeed, his knowledge of pipe organs would make a spin on Mastermind a breeze. \u201cYes, as a special subject I\u2019d do the Welsh church organs built by Yorkshireman Peter Conacher from 1854\u201398.\u201d He pauses. \u201cActually, no, I would pick medieval French romance.\u201d<\/p>\n I tell him Clive Myrie, host of the famous quiz and a colleague, has confessed to me that he has no special subject to speak of. \u201cHa!\u201d says Edwards, with unfiltered glee. \u201cMedieval French romance! Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Myrie!\u201d Edwards studied it as part of a French degree (at University College Cardiff, where he got a first), and then got two years into a PhD, \u201cbefore I chucked it in for journalism.\u201d<\/p>\n At which point Edwards, Gallic bit firmly between his teeth, gallops off into the heart of his PhD. \u201cWell, it is Arthurian, and some of it is anonymous, but some of it is attributable to the great French writers, including the first female French poet Marie de France, and she wrote courtly romances, including one whose title I use for my hardest ever computer password.\u201d<\/p>\n Huw! Come back! But we are now into the life and times of someone called Chr\u00e9tien de Troyes, and he\u2019s unstoppable. \u201cOh, he\u2019s the great star of medieval French romance, he\u2019s responsible for Clig\u00e8s, a poem written in 1176, which is about a knight who gets into trouble, as they always do\u2026 then the Roman de la Rose, of course\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Stop! Huw! I need to ask you about the centenary of the BBC, and your future.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I have perhaps been too honest about this in the last couple of years,\u201d he says, following a few more forays into the world of wimples and manuscripts. \u201cWhen I was approaching my 60th birthday, I said to a journalist that it might be a normal time to think about my future. That became translated as \u2018He\u2019s on the move\u2019. Ultimately, it\u2019s not my decision. I\u2019m not going to walk away from something as prominent as the Ten. I\u2019ve had a good run, but I genuinely do enjoy it. I like what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, how does he feel about the BBC at 100? \u201cI think it would be a mistake if at any point it takes audiences and the licence fee for granted, especially now that younger people have different consumption patterns. It has a bigger job than ever before to justify its place and funding.\u201d<\/p> Is it embattled? \u201cThose of us who\u2019ve been there for a long time have known pressure from both Tory and Labour governments. We are constantly under attack from parts of the press who have a commercial interest. People are more cynical than ever before and that is partly to do with the way people consume social media and tell themselves that certain things are not right, or genuine.<\/p>\n \u201cOur job is to demonstrate we are still a force for good \u2013 that means news, but also culture. Supporting the arts and education is a crucial function of the BBC, especially those parts which wouldn\u2019t make it in a harsh commercial world. I would argue that it is very good value for money. We represent 100 years of incredible achievement and some of the best programming in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Huw, you are director-general for a day. What would you do? \u201cIt\u2019s a filthy question, but I will give you an answer,\u201d he chortles. \u201cFor the first time in 38 years, I would like my own desk, and my own chair, and my own set of drawers because I have never had that in all my time. That would be my order if I was DG for the day. All presenters to get a desk and chair of their own. It\u2019s not unreasonable!\u201d<\/p>\n Visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0to see what\u2019s on tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and get the next 12 issues for only \u00a31.\u00a0<\/strong>For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n By Rosie Millard Published: Saturday, 22 October 2022 at 12:00 am This interview was originally published in\u00a0Radio Times magazine. Funny things, pedestals. When some people are perceived to be on one, it goes to their heads and they become frightfully grand. But Huw Edwards, the 61-year old anchor of BBC News, who has every right […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":24321,"template":"","categories":[1,5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-scaled.jpg",2560,1652,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-300x194.jpg",300,194,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-768x496.jpg",768,496,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-1024x661.jpg",800,516,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-1536x991.jpg",1536,991,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/huw-edwards-on-the-bbc-we-represent-100-years-of-incredible-achievement-2048x1321.jpg",2048,1321,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Rosie Millard Published: Saturday, 22 October 2022 at 12:00 am This interview was originally published in\u00a0Radio Times magazine. Funny things, pedestals. When some people are perceived to be on one, it goes to their heads and they become frightfully grand. But Huw Edwards, the 61-year old anchor of BBC News, who has every right…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/24320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/GettyImages-1128204074-935b49c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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