Martin Clunes has broken his silence after Huw Edwards unleashed a scathing attack on the Channel 5 drama about his very public downfall, which stars the Doc Martin legend as the disgraced news anchor. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, March 24, just 12 hours before the show is set to broadcast, Clunes reflected on Huwâs remarks. âThereâs a weird circularity to this,â he said, âbecause I appreciate heâs upset by the fact that weâve made this programme, but he would have reported on other downfalls, other peopleâs disgraces without a second thought.â
The 64-year-old former BBC stalwart blasted Wonderhood Studios, which is behind Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, in a lengthy statement made public on Monday March 23. â(They) made no attempt to check with me the truth of any aspect of their narrative before going ahead with the production. They belatedly asked for a response after the drama had been made, while reserving the right to edit any such response.
âThey also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions. Channel 5âs âfactual dramaâ is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.â
In the statement, which was obtained by the Daily Mail, the former News At 10 anchor also expressed remorse for the crimes which led to his conviction.
He said: âMy deep regret and remorse for the crimes I committed were expressed in court. In pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, I took full responsibility for my reprehensible actions.â
The Welsh journalist admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and received a six-month suspended sentence in September 2024. He was put on the sex offendersâ register for seven years and ordered to complete a sex offender treatment programme.
Asked by the host Susanna Reid, how he had managed to get into Edwardsâ mindset, Clunes revealed: âI had the script, and you just have to sort of get behind everything the script gets you to do.
ââŚJudging it wasnât on my list of things to do that day, standing back and saying, âThis is a terrible man doing terrible thingsââŚMy task is to try and inhabit what the script gives me of that fella.
âIâm not attracted to the things Huw Edwards was, butâŚI know about attraction, so you just sort of swap [it out],â he explained.
Clunes also responded to people who feel the drama may be coming too soon after Edwardsâ crimes came to light. âIf anybody thinks itâs too soon, donât watch it,â he said. âAlso, what is the timetable for these things?â he asked.
