Huw Edwards sets record straight on BBC redundancy letter in ‘reality check’ post | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Huw Edwards has taken to Twitter today to have his say, hours after it was claimed redundancy letters had been sent out by the BBC to him and some of his colleagues.

Recipients were said to include major BBC stars Reeta Chakrabarti, Clive Myrie and Sophie Raworth.

However, the much-loved newsreader has now set the record straight in view of his 180,000 followers.

The 61-year-old gave a “reality check” alongside a picture of himself and his mother.

The pair were seen enjoying what appeared to be a glass of fizz, before Huw shared what had happened.

READ MORE: Prince Edward rushed to the aid of bedridden Ulrika Jonsson

“Reality check,” he tweeted. “A standard HR exercise by @BBCNews (one of many over the years) is just that.

“A standard invitation to consider applying for voluntary redundancy. Nothing more.”

“As my mam says, don’t believe everything in the papers,” Huw then quipped. The post was also shared by co-star, Sophie, online.

BBC correspondent Paul Murphy was one of the first to reply, writing: “Absolutely right. It would be a genuine story had the same staff NOT received a standard VR invite.”

Huw’s relieved fans also rushed to comment, saying they were glad he would not be disappearing from screens.

@Caz75304934 told him: “We’ll, thank goodness for that. News (sorry for the pun) of you and @CliveMyrieBBC not being on my TV screen had not gone down well.

“Love your mam, such a beautiful face.”

@MillyTheLily continued: “I’ll seriously cancel my TV license if you leave Huw. Love the pic. Stay well x.”

@slightlycrunchy added: “Very glad to hear that, thanks for letting us know.”

The Mail on Sunday previously reported that the Beeb’s interim managing editor of news and current affairs, Philippa Busby, had written to senior figures on BBC1 and some of Radio 4’s top names such as Nick Robinson and Justin Webb – presenters of its flagship Today programme.

The move – linked to efficiency savings measures announced by Director-General Tim Davie last year – has reportedly caused already low morale at BBC News to nosedive even more.

A merger between the BBC News channel and its international equivalent BBC World News has already taken place as part of these plans.

The letter was sent at the start of April and asked employees to set up a meeting with senior HR executive Tim Burden if they would like to discuss the possibility of leaving the BBC under voluntary redundancy.