Martin Clunes has shared the reasons behind his decision to play Huw Edwards, the former BBC News presenter, in a new documentary for Channel 5. The program details Edwards’ downfall and the effect it had on a young person he had contacted.
In the drama ‘Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards,’ Clunes stars alongside Osian Morgan (known from ‘Under Salt Marsh’) as ‘Ryan’ – an alias – who was 17 when he initially met the broadcaster.
This one-time drama was carefully created based on extensive research, including interviews with the young man involved and actual text messages between him and Edwards.
People were surprised to see Clunes take on the intense drama, considering he’s famous for comedies like Doc Martin and Men Behaving Badly.
The actor told reporters he understood the project would be difficult in several ways, but he explained why he decided to take the risk and participate anyway.
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According to Clunes, the strength of the script is what stood out most. He praised its powerful and engaging nature, adding that he appreciates when dramas address challenging subjects with intelligence, as this one does.
While the scandal surrounding this story has grabbed a lot of attention, I believed the real heart of it lay with ‘Ryan’ and his family. The media has understandably focused on Huw Edwards and his downfall, and that’s certainly a significant part of the news, but I felt there was a more important, untold story here.
He went on to say that beneath everything else, there was a young man and his family whose lives had been completely disrupted and ruined.
I’m a huge admirer of director Michael Samuels, and I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with him. I always considered him to be a director I wouldn’t realistically get to collaborate with, so this project was a real thrill.
I was so thrilled to see Joe Samuels recognized at the 2011 BAFTA TV Awards! He really brought ‘Any Human Heart’ on Channel 4 to life with Jim Broadbent – it was stunning. And it’s amazing to think about all his other great work too, like ‘Man in an Orange Shirt’ and the moving film, ‘The Windermere Children’. He’s a truly talented director.
Clunes explained he doesn’t feel the need to change how people see him and would gladly reprise his role as Doc Martin if offered. He’s currently starring in a US show called Best Medicine, playing a character with a lot of similarities to Doc Martin.
I’ve played dark characters before – I was a murderer in one role and played a villain in ‘Wuthering Heights’ – but I simply choose projects as they come. I don’t really have a long-term career plan, he finished.
At the premiere, Martin Clunes playfully suggested he got the role because Michael Sheen was unavailable. Sheen is known for his portrayals of real-life figures, having played people like Prince Andrew (in ‘A Very Royal Scandal’), Tony Blair (‘The Queen’), David Frost (‘Frost/Nixon’), and Chris Tarrant (‘Quiz’).
Morgan, a colleague of Huw Edwards, agreed with Martin Clunes that the story was being handled appropriately, focusing on the experiences of the individual identified as ‘Ryan’ rather than Edwards’s side of the story.
Morgan explained that viewers typically see stories about criminals and their eventual ruin. However, this new drama explores a different angle: how does surviving a crime affect the victim?
What really struck me about this film is its heart. It doesn’t just focus on the details of the scandal; it dives into the real impact on the people involved. If it leaves audiences thinking about them, about the human cost of it all, rather than just the story itself, then I think the filmmakers have truly succeeded. It’s that emotional connection that makes it so powerful.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards premieres on 5 on Tuesday 24 March 2026.
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Authors
David Craig writes about television and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before joining them, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.
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2026-03-24 12:12