We are a strange lot, the British.
We recently saw our papers filled with what passes for news about Philip Schofield and, more recently, it has been Huw Edwards in the spotlight.
I suppose with their track record we shouldn’t be surprised how The Sun newspaper handled the story – like some terrible crime had taken place with comment such as:
“BBC SEX PROBE Top BBC star who ‘paid child for sex pictures’ could be charged by cops and face years in prison, expert says”.
We expect it from The Sun. And sadly, we now expect comment from the rent-a-quote ex law enforcement mob who have to get involved giving their views. We all know who they are – the usual suspects who sadly were all over high-profile stories including Nicola Bulley. Do they really want this low-level media career so badly? Hmmmm, let’s leave that hanging.
So now the Met Police has concluded that Huw Edwards will face no criminal charges and the reaction from The Sun, although strictly true, is pretty hard to stomach. They said in a carefully worded statement:
“The Sun at no point in our original story alleged criminality and also took the decision neither to name Mr Edwards nor the young person involved in the allegations.”
But we know. We all know.
On a wider point, why are we so surprised at how the rich and famous behave – wasn’t it always this way? Surely, the only difference in 2023 is that they are much more likely to be caught out in the internet age.
But do you really care when no crime has taken place?
I think I will leave the moral judgements for others and just try to live my own life.