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A well-known actress and survivor of childhood sexual abuse has expressed strong criticism of former newsreader Huw Edwards for entering this year’s National Eisteddfod poetry competition. She stated that if Edwards had won, it would have been a “catastrophic” outcome. Edwards, who in 2024 acknowledged having accessed 41 images of children—seven of which were classified as being of the most severe category—received a six-month suspended sentence with a two-year probation period.
Edwards defended his submission by explaining that the poem was a tribute to his father, aiming to challenge what he described as a “poisonous narrative.” He further insisted that the poem was not intended for “sickeningly self-righteous Welsh speakers.” The National Eisteddfod, recognized as Wales’ largest cultural festival, emphasized that their competition process maintains the anonymity of participants. Competitors submit their work under pseudonyms, and true identities are only disclosed upon winners being announced. Edwards submitted his work under the name “Y Gelyn” (The Enemy), and this was confirmed by Newyddion S4C, the BBC-produced Welsh news service.
Sera Cracroft, an actress known for her role in the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm who has publicly shared her own experience of child sexual abuse, voiced her disappointment regarding Edwards’ participation. She remarked: “Had he won, the image of him being crowned in front of the nation is hurtful to survivors.” Cracroft expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the mental health support Edwards claimed to be receiving and strongly condemned the timing of his actions following his conviction. Highlighting the severity of the case, she noted, “Some of the images were in the worst category possible.” Cracroft concluded that it was “far too soon for him to try and redeem himself.”
Newyddion S4C reported that Edwards’ poem did not place highly, being ranked in the third tier by judges. Edwards’ Substack blog has previously sparked backlash from child sexual abuse campaigners. In his posts, Edwards has expressed “abhorrence” at the crimes he admitted to and stated that his sentence would become spent on 16 September. Additionally, he denied being a child rapist and clarified that his offense was limited to clicking on files sent by another individual. Nonetheless, Cracroft urged Edwards to better understand the impact of such offences on survivors, suggesting he engage directly with those affected. She also called on the National Eisteddfod to reconsider its rules that allow anonymous entries. The festival organizers responded by assuring that reviews of their processes will continue to ensure appropriateness.
In a statement provided to Newyddion S4C and shared with Cracroft, Edwards reiterated the personal nature of his poem and dismissed the idea that he sought to win the competition. “The poisonous narrative encouraged by the press two years ago needed correcting,” he said. Responding to Cracroft’s remarks, Edwards accused her and similar critics of being “sickeningly self-righteous” and suggested they fail to appreciate the damaging effects of poor mental health, comparing their attitude to that of London’s tabloid press
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