THE BBC he has asked Edwards to return the £200,000 salary he has received since his arrest.
BBC Chief executive Tim Davie said last week the money should be returned and the corporation would “explore” legal action if Edwards refuses.
Mr. Davie and BBC Chairman Samir Shah was questioned by the House of Lords Digital and Communications Committee on Wednesday (11 September).
On the disgraced presenter’s payout, Mr Davie said: “We have made the formal request and I can’t go into too much detail but discussions are ongoing but I have no further news, other than that BBCThe position is clear, the money must be returned, and we have made the request.”
When asked if he had set a deadline, he said: “I don’t believe we have set a deadline… but we hope to make progress and get an answer.”
Mr Shah told the same committee that Edwards had “damaged” the BBCreputation. He said: “There is nothing more important than public confidence in BBCand we are the guardians of that trust and what Huw Edwards did damaged the reputation and trust of BBC so we take this very seriously.
“I would say it was a shock to discover, when it was announced, when he was charged, that he had led a double life. On the surface, a trusted news presenter, but hidden, secretly, he was this figure who did the most terrible things. I mean, we will never forget the victims.”
Mr Shah said he knew Edwards, having overseen current affairs at the BBC decades ago, adding that other employees who worked with him “feel angry and betrayed” by the former host.