Martin Clunes, the beloved actor known for his role in Doc Martin, is preparing to portray disgraced BBC news presenter Huw Edwards in Channel 5’s upcoming drama, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. In a candid interview, Clunes revealed how he immersed himself in chilling archive footage of Edwards, leading to a standout moment that haunted him as he transformed into the fallen star.
The 64-year-old actor delved deep into Edwards’ past, researching how the BBC legend’s secret life unraveled. The drama will shed light on Edwards’ devastating fall from grace, as he pled guilty to making indecent images of children in July 2024, shocking millions of viewers who had known him for decades as the face of BBC News at Ten.
In the drama, Clunes portrays Edwards as he spirals out of control, engaging in a grooming scandal that rocked the media world. A chilling synopsis reveals how Edwards led a double life, manipulating vulnerable individuals online, including a 17-year-old he repeatedly solicited explicit photos from. The series paints a tragic portrait of Edwards’ ultimate downfall—an emotional exit from public life after being convicted of serious child sexual offenses.
In preparation for the role, Martin Clunes watched several moments of Edwards’ public life beyond the newsroom. He scoured footage from award ceremonies and public appearances, discovering how Edwards was a little more Welsh when off-duty. But one particular clip deeply unsettled the actor.
“I watched this one outside broadcast where Edwards was outside Number 10 at night, texting and waiting to go live,” Clunes recalled. “It was chilling, especially knowing what we now know about him.”
While he acknowledges the gravity of his role, Clunes was careful not to engage in speculation about Edwards’ personal life. However, his conversations with former colleagues of Edwards revealed a lack of compliments for the fallen star.
Clunes is joined by a talented cast, including Osian Morgan as the vulnerable teenager at the heart of the scandal, as well as Ben Bishop and Clare Calbraith, who portray key figures in The Sun newsroom. 
As the drama draws closer to its airing on March 24, Channel 5 faces backlash from former BBC boss Roger Mosey, who believes the series could run into serious legal issues. Mosey expressed concerns that the series, due to its nature, could be “very risky” and suggested a documentary format would have been safer.
Despite the controversy, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards promises to be a gripping and powerful drama. You won’t want to miss this deeply haunting portrayal of one of the most shocking scandals in modern media.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards airs on March 24, 2026, on Channel 5 and its streaming service My5.
Source: Daily Mail
