Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is being probed by Ofcom over “fairness and privacy.”
An investigation has been launched into the two-part series for Skydance UK network 5 under the “fairness and privacy” section of the regulator’s Broadcasting Code. No more detail was forthcoming. “We are investigating a fairness and privacy complaint about this programme,” said an Ofcom spokeswoman.
Starring Martin Clunes as Edwards, Power explored the allegations around the relationship between the BBC news anchor and a vulnerable teenager. Edwards rose to become one of the UK’s best-known news anchors before workplace misconduct allegations and a child pornography conviction ruined his reputation. In 2024, he pled guilty to making indecent images of children and was given a suspended sentence.
Edwards has been publicly critical of the 5 drama, saying the team behind it “made no attempt” to verify its story.
“Fairness and privacy complaints” are complaints about “unjust or unfair treatment in programmes, or about unwarranted infringements of privacy in programmes.”
Edwards has not publicly said he made the complaint but these type of complaints must either come from the “‘person affected’ or by a person authorised by ‘the person affected’,” according to the Ofcom code.
Ofcom will now take representations from both sides before making its decision, and this could include a private hearing with the complainant, 5 and producer Wonderhood Studios.
5 (formerly Channel 5) has always said Power was based on “extensive interviews with the victim and his family” as well as court reporting.
When Edwards published his critique six months ago, 5 said: “It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”
Ofcom will now examine the series under the “fairness and privacy” section of the Broacasting Code and could dish out a range of punishments if it is found to have broken the code.
Deadline has reached out to 5 for comment.
