Ofcom launches investigation into Channel 5's Huw Edwards drama starring Martin Clunes

Ofcom has opened an investigation into Channel 5's feature-length drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, examining a complaint under the "fairness and privacy" section of its Broadcasting Code.

The regulator confirmed the probe on Monday, but gave no further detail about the complaint or who made it.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards starred Martin Clunes as the disgraced former BBC news anchor, dramatising the allegations surrounding Edwards's relationship with a vulnerable teenager.

In 2024 he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and was given a suspended sentence.

Fairness and privacy complaints concern "unjust or unfair treatment in programmes, or about unwarranted infringements of privacy in programmes".

Under the code, such complaints must be made either by the "person affected" or by someone authorised to act on their behalf.

It is not known whether Edwards himself made the claim, but he had been critical of the drama and its producers when it initially premiered in March 2026.

He told the Daily Mail in a statement: "[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. They also refused to disclose whether any of those making allegations had been paid for their contributions."

At the time, a Channel 5 spokesperson said the series was based on "extensive interviews with the victim and his family" as well as court reporting (via BBC News).

"It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom's Broadcasting Code," they continued. "All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission."

Today, they added that they would "robustly" defend the programme from the Ofcom complaint.

Ofcom will now take representations from both sides before reaching a decision, a process that could include a private hearing involving the complainant, 5 and Wonderhood Studios. If the programme is found to have breached the code, the regulator has a range of sanctions available.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards was written by Mark Burt and directed by Michael Samuels, with Osian Morgan, Sian Reese-Williams, Jason Hughes, Chanel Cresswell and Clare Calbraith completing the cast.

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Authors

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.