‘Dozens’ of BBC journalists are reportedly working on further potential stories about the corporation’s embattled newsreader Huw Edwards.
Mr Edwards wife revealed his name on Wednesday as the presenter at the centre of an explicit photos scandal which has enveloped the BBC since a story was published by the Sun newspaper on Friday July 7.
A slew of fresh claims have since been made about the presenter, including two from a former and current employee of the BBC interviewed by Newsnight.
The Metropolitan Police said it has found no evidence of any criminal offence having been committed.
In a statement Mr Edwards wife said the presenter, who has a well-documented history of depression struggles, was receiving in-patient care for mental health issues.
Colleagues and friends of the newsreader leapt to his defence with some calling the reporting of stories on Mr Edwards as “really aggressive and uncalled for” and that there was “lots of anger” over the handling of the crisis.
But sources told the Guardian there is a fervour in some parts of the BBC to show it is “independent and impartial” and so continue to follow-up any new claims, with “dozens” of journalists working on the story.
It’s been claimed Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire and other BBC staff had already been looking into stories about Mr Edwards before the allegations were published in the Sun.
But an insider told the Guardian there is some anger in some quarters over the handling of the story, as they said: “It wasn’t hard hitting and these stories have a rhythm and the police had said nothing to see here, his wife had said he has had a break down and is in hospital and The Sun had said we are pausing our end of it and at that point Victoria Derbyshire tries to ramp it up again.
“People felt it was really aggressive and uncalled for and there is a lot of anger about it.”
According to Deadline, “multiple sources” had been contacted by Ms Derbyshire as Newsnight looked into rumours of alleged unwanted messages to junior staff.
The BBC said “initial soundings” on Mr Edwards had been taken by Newsnight, but it would be wrong to “characterise” it as an investigation, Mail Online reports.
BBC director-general Tim Davie will be questioned in Parliament about the corporation’s leadership following the Huw Edwards furore.
Mr Davie, acting chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and policy director Clare Sumner will appear before the Lords Communications Committee on Tuesday.
The BBC is currently conducting “fact-finding investigations” into allegations against the veteran broadcaster, after he was named by his wife.
Vicky Flind issued a statement to say her husband is “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is receiving in-patient hospital care.
The Metropolitan Police have said no criminal offence has been committed by Edwards and no further police action will be taken “at this time”, allowing an internal BBC investigation to resume.
The Sun, which first reported allegations against the then-unnamed presenter last week, claiming he had paid a young person thousands of pounds, said it has no plans to publish further allegations and will co-operate with the BBC’s internal investigation process.
Former BBC correspondent Jon Sopel, who worked with Edwards for decades, said Edwards was “very angry” and “felt very let down” by the coverage of the allegations made about him.
On Wednesday BBC Newsnight reported new claims from one current and one former BBC worker, who said they had received “inappropriate messages” from Edwards, “some late at night and signed off with kisses”.
Mental health charities have called for Edwards to be given the support and treatment he needs.
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