Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards aired on Tuesday, and it seems that Martin Clunes's performance as the disgraced former BBC newsreader has garnered considerable acclaim, even if the subject matter itself proved tough to watch.
The feature-length television film depicts Edwards' downfall, which began after he was suspended by the BBC in July 2023. The newsreader resigned from his position in April 2024 following a public scandal that ended with him pleading guilty to making indecent images of children.
The drama, which is directed by Michael Samuels and written by Mark Burt, premiered on 5 on Tuesday evening, with viewers praising Clunes' impressive performance in a distressing film.
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"Martin Clunes brilliant as Huw Edwards in tonight's programme on @channel5_tv," wrote one viewer on X.
A second viewer echoed this sentiment, writing: "This Huw Edwards drama is pretty graphic and gripping. What makes it so compelling? Watching someone we so revered fall from grace in such an appalling way?"
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"Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards... he's amazing but also I can't believe they've got such a lovely man playing such a horrible role! the dynamic between them is heartbreaking," wrote a third viewer.
"Martin Clunes is doing an excellent job as Huw Edwards," noted a fourth viewer, while a fifth also praised the central performance writing: "How does Martin Clunes do this? It’s uncanny."
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"Martin Clunes is delivering a performance that makes the skin crawl. Absolute tour de force," remarked another watcher, while one viewer said that the actor gave a "career-defining performance" in the "disturbing" and "compelling" drama.
Edwards, who served as the lead presenter for BBC News at Ten for 20 years before his exit, has been critical of the drama, releasing a statement via MailOnline.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is streaming on 5.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
