The BBC presenter at the centre of allegations has been named by his wife. Here's what we know.

This week, the BBC has found itself at the centre of controversy.

On Sunday, the British broadcaster announced it had suspended a male member of staff following an allegation one of its star presenters paid a teenager thousands of pounds to pose for sexually explicit photos, beginning when they were 17.

The BBC said it first became aware of a complaint in May, but new allegations of a different nature were made to it last week, and it had informed "external authorities". 

"This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps," it said in a statement.

"We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended."

BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photographs has been suspended, the corporation says https://t.co/IYDXdCciYw

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 9, 2023

As more details come to light, here's what you need to know about the allegations. 

Who is the BBC presenter?

On Thursday, the BBC presenter at the centre of the allegations was named as veteran news anchor Huw Edwards.

Edward's wife, Vicky Flind, named her husband late on Wednesday and said he was hospitalised with serious mental health issues.

After "five extremely difficult days for our family," Flind said she was naming him "primarily out of concern for his mental wellbeing and to protect our children".

"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future," she said.

BBC news anchor Huw Edwards named by his wife as presenter in explicit photo row, in statement on his behalf https://t.co/YpD6v4K07Z

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 12, 2023

Edwards is one of the UK's best-known and most authoritative news broadcasters, presenter on the BBC's main nightly news program and the face of its election coverage.

The 61-year-old led BBC coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.

He is among the broadcaster's best-paid stars, with an annual salary of at least 435,000 pounds ($832,000 AUD).

The father of five said in a 2021 documentary that depression had left him bedridden for periods over two decades.

What happens now?

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement on Wednesday saying no further action would be taken.

"Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed," the force said.

Although the age of sexual consent in the UK is 16, it is a crime to make or possess indecent images of anyone under 18.

Jon Sopel, the former BBC News North America editor, sent his best wishes to Edwards and his family.

"This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life," Sopel tweeted.

"That doesn't feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect."

This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life. That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect. They really need to. I wish ⁦@thehuwedwards⁩ well. pic.twitter.com/H3rN3bhE1U

— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) July 12, 2023

The BBC said it would continue its investigation into the matter.

What was originally reported? 

The Sun was the first publication to report the allegations. 

In their report, the British newspaper cited the young person's mother as saying the unnamed male presenter had paid the teenager more than 35,000 pounds ($67,177 AUD) over three years for the images.

The teenager's mother told the newspaper their child had used the cash to fund a crack cocaine habit.

She also said told the publication she saw a picture of the presenter on her child's phone "sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear".

She said she was told it was "a picture from some kind of video call" and looked like he was "getting ready for my child to perform for him".

The family complained to the broadcaster on May 19, but the presenter was not immediately taken off-air, according to The Sun. 

The publication said the family had not requested payment for their story.

According to a timeline published by the BBC, a member of the young person's family walked into a BBC building on May 18 to make a complaint.

The family member contacted BBC Audience Services the next day.

The BBC said it made two unsuccessful attempts – one email and one phone call – to respond to the complainant.

The Sun contacted the BBC seven weeks later on July 6 with different allegations, the broadcaster said on Tuesday, and senior management were informed for the first time.

"The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care," BBC Director General Tim Davie told reporters after the corporation published its annual report.

Davie, who said he had not personally spoken to the presenter, earlier said the new information provided by The Sun on July 6 "clearly related to potential criminal activity".

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The young person 'rubbished' the allegations.

In a twist, a lawyer for the teenager said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened and that the allegations were "rubbish".

In a letter reported by BBC News At Six on Tuesday, the young person said via a lawyer: "For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are 'rubbish'."

The legal representative also claimed that the teenager told The Sun on Friday evening, ahead of the newspaper publishing the story, that there was "no truth to it".

The "inappropriate article" was still put on the front page, the lawyer told BBC News.

As well as being in touch with the police, the BBC said it was carrying out its own inquiries and talking to the young person's family.

A spokesperson for The Sun said: "We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC.

"We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. It's now for the BBC to properly investigate."

This article was originally published on July 12, 2023, and was updated on July 13, 2023.

- With AAP.

Feature Image:  Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty.