Martin Clunes Will Star as Huw Edwards in New Series

The BBC is going under the microscope in a brand new docudrama miniseries commissioned by the U.K.’s 5. Produced under the working title Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, the two-parter will recount the double life of the disgraced Huw Edwards, a trusted BBC newsreader, who was fired after he was accused and convicted of serious child sexual offenses, with Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) taking the lead role of the titular Edwards.

The Edwards scandal came to light after the mother of one of his victims came forth with a complaint in 2023. The BBC did an internal investigation, and Edwards resigned in April 2024. He was publicly announced as having been arrested and charged later that July, where he pleaded guilty. The fallout from the Edwards scandal was a massive black eye for Auntie Beeb, who was alleged to have turned a blind eye to it. (The BBC has apologized to the victims and to the staff.)

Clunes has been playing against type as he moves on from the role that defined his career for two decades, first with the rural drug-smuggling series Out There and now with this new casting. The first image from the series (above) suggests he’ll try to disappear into this role; the effect is somewhat uncanny.

(The black mourning suit he’s wearing above is almost certainly a reference to Edwards’ being given the duty of announcing Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022.)

Clunes is the only cast member announced thus far; 5 is expected to announce the rest of the roster in due course. The script comes from Mark Burt (Home Fires), which is “based on extensive factual research, including first-hand interviews and cooperation from those at the heart of the scandal and exclusive access to The Sun newspaper’s award-winning investigation into Edwards,” according to the press release.

Director Michael Samuels (Man in an Orange Shirt) is set to helm both installments. Angie Daniell produces, with Louise Kentleton as the factual producer. The series is co-produced by Wonderhood Studio and Krempelwood for 5.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards does not yet have a release date on 5, but is expected to debut sometime in the 20206-2027 television season. No American distributor is attached as yet, but smart money says this one’s heading right to BritBox.