Martin Clunes reveals why he agreed to play Huw Edwards in dark new drama
Martin Clunes has opened up about his role in Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.
Martin Clunes has insisted the script was "the most important thing" in getting him to play Huw Edwards.
The 64-year-old actor plays the disgraced BBC News presenter in 5's new two-part drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, and he has opened up on his decision to take on the role.
As quoted by RadioTimes.com, he told the press: "The script is always the most important thing and I thought it was really powerful and compelling – it's always good when drama tackles difficult stories, especially when it does so as intelligently as this project.
"Beyond the salacious curiosity around this story, I really thought there was another story worth telling, that of 'Ryan' and his family.
"Obviously, the press and the media have focused on the fallen big man, Huw Edwards, which, of course, is a big story.
"But behind that, there's this lad and his family whose lives got turned upside down and rather spoiled."
Edwards received a six-month sentenced suspended for two years and was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years in September 2024 after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
The show is based on interviews with "key individuals" involved in Huw's story, but not the 64-year-old broadcaster himself.
Martin appears alongside Osian Mrogan as 'Ryan' (not his real name), who was just 17 years old when he came into contact with Edwards.
Meanwhile, the former Doc Martin actor noted that working with director Michael Samuels was also a major draw for the project.
He added: "I'm also a massive fan of the director, Michael Samuels, and I never thought I'd get to work with him
"I thought he was out of my reach as far as directors go, so I was really thrilled about the chance to work with him on this."
Edwards was not involved in the drama, and has recently hit out at production company Wonderhood.
He said in a statement to the Daily Mail newspaper: "[They] made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production.
"They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response.
"They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions.
"Channel 5’s ‘factual drama’ is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.”
The broadcaster has defended the drama, insisting it gives a voice to Edwards' alleged victim so that "no one who has been silenced feels they are alone".
