Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards cast includes TV stars from Doc Martin, Emmerdale and Midsomer Murders
It's very recent history
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is a controversial factual film which dramatises the shocking fall-from-grace of the Welsh BBC news presenter – and Martin Clunes plays him in the cast.
The Channel 5 drama explores how a vulnerable 17-year-old boy was groomed by one of the most respected figures in television. Doc Martin’s Martin Clunes plays Huw Edwards in his most challenging role to date.
Of course, the entire nation watched in horror as Huw’s life spiralled out of control very publicly. Huw subsequently withdrew from public life after his double life was exposed. A judge later convicted him for making indecent images of children.
Here’s who plays who in the cast of the Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.
Martin Clunes stars as Huw Edwards
Surrey-born actor Martin Clunes, 64, takes on the most controversial role of his career playing Huw Edwards. He has said: “Beyond the salacious curiosity around this story, I really thought there was another story worth telling. That of [Edwards’ victim] ‘Ryan’ and his family.”
Of course, Martin is arguably one of Britain’s favourite TV actors. He’s been on our screens since 1983 when he first popped up as Lon in four episodes of Doctor Who opposite Peter Davison’s Doctor.
He went on to play Nigel Crabtree in No Place Like Home, and Henry in another family drama, All at Number 20. After playing Barmy in Jeeves and Wooster, and Pilbeam in Gone to the Dogs, Martin won the role that would catapult him to primetime security.
From 1992 to 2014 (on and off), Martin played Gary in the popular sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Further leading roles followed, including playing William Shawcross in romcom William and Mary, and Reggie in the Reggie Perrin reboot.
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He is probably most famous for playing Dr. Martin Ellingham in ITV comedy drama Doc Martin, a role he played from 2004 to 2022. Other notable roles include Sir Pitt Crawley in Vanity Fair, Warren in the 2019 comedy of the same name, and DCI Colin Sutton in the Manhunt. He’s been in films, too, including Shakespeare in Love, Saving Grace, Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!, and Goodbye Mr Chips.
More recently, Martin played Welsh farmer Nathan in the cast of Out There on ITV. He’s currently impressing Wuthering Heights fans with his portrayal of drunkard Mr Earnshaw.
Osian Morgan plays Ryan Davies
Welsh actor Osian Morgan, who is in his 20s, stars as Huw Edwards’ victim. Channel 5 has called him Ryan for the purposes of filming.
Waterloo Road fans will know Welsh-speaking Osian for playing Myles Massey in the BBC drama. He appeared for seven episodes in 2023, and it was his first significant TV role.
Osain subsequently popped up as Harrison in the Jayde Adams sitcom Ruby Speaking, before winning the role of Josh Cope in Emmerdale in 2024. Other notable roles include Will in Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, and Alfie Bevan in the recent crime drama Under Salt Marsh.
He also appeared in Welsh soap Pobol Y Cwm where he played regular character Aaron Monk between 2016 and 2024. He is a skilled singer-songwriter, too, and plays guitar and piano. Im 2025, Osian played Baynham in the Toby Jones film Mr Burton.
Sian Reese-Williams portrays Carys
Carmarthenshire-born actress Sian Reese-Williams, 44, plays Carys in the cast of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards on Channel 5.
She has to be one of TVGuide.co.uk‘s favourite TV actresses right now. She is perhaps best known for playing detective Cadi John in three series of brilliant crime drama Hidden between 2018 and 2021. If you’re a fan of detective dramas, you need to watch it on iPlayer now.
Of course, soap fans will know Sian for playing Gennie Walker in Emmerdale from 2008 to 2013. Genesis ‘Gennie’ Walker (née Pascoe) was the biological daughter of Shadrach Dingle and Shirley Pascoe. Brenda Walker adopted her at a young age. Gennie was married to Nikhil Sharma until Cameron Murray murdered her in July 2013 in tragic scenes that left fans devastated.
Sian is also famous for her roles in Hinterland, 35 Diwrnod, Requiem, Silent Witness, Wolf, and Sexy Beast. She even popped up as PS Jane Cafferty in Line of Duty in 2019, before going on to portray Jodie Rodgers in Holby City, and Caryl in Still Waters. More recently, she played Laura Holt in Waiting for the Out.
Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards cast: Jason Hughes is Mick
Another Welsh actor, 55-year-old Jason Hughes stars as Mick in the cast of the Huw Edwards drama on Channel 5. He’s most definitely recognised for his part in the ITV series Midsomer Murders. He played Sergeant Ben Jones in the detective drama between 2005 and 2013. A proud family man, he left the detective drama to spend more time at home.
He made his name portraying lawyer Warren Jones in the iconic BBC relationship drama This Life from 1996 to 1997. Jason went on to play Gethin Morris in Mine All Mine, before winning the leading role in Midsomer Murders.
Other notable roles include DC Sandy Guthrie in Three Girls, Vince Whitman in Marcella, and Max in The Pact. More recently, he’s popped up in episodes of McDonald & Dodds, Beyond Paradise, and Art Detectives.
The actor is also very famous for his work across theatre.
Chanel Cresswell stars as The Sun reporter Scarlet Howes
Derbyshire born Chanel Cresswell, 36, portrays Scarlet in the Channel 5 film. She made her name playing Kelly Jenkins in This Is England the film in 2006, and the subsequent TV series This Is England ’86, This Is England ’88, and This Is England ’90. In fact, acclaimed director Shane Meadows plucked her from obscurity for the part, which was her first ever acting role. She was just 15 when she first appeared as Kelly, and went on to win the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2016.
Between 2011 and 2018, Chanel portrayed Katie in the comedy Trollied. Other notable roles include Julie Prior in The Case, Paulette in The Aliens, Jess Meredith in The Bay, Lesley Mead in Des, and Rosie Jackson in Sherwood.
More recently, she’s starred as Coleen Rooney in Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama, Tammy in The Gentlemen, and Hannah Swift in Dirty Business.
Over the years, she’s also popped up in episodes of Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, The Split, and Vera.
Claire Calbraith plays The Sun editor Victoria Newton
Actress Claire Calbraith, 52, was born in Winsford, Cheshire, and raised in Liverpool. Before playing Victoria Newton in Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, she’d been on our screens for 26 years.
She made her name as Dr Tricia Summerbee in Heartbeat between 2001 and 2002, before going on to portray Beth Robson in 55 Degrees North, and Robyn in Coronation Street.
Another soap role followed in 2008, when she portrayed Kay McLeod in Doctors, and even popped up as Dr Skillen in EastEnders that same year. Subsequent appearances included Laura Gabriel in The Shadow Line, Jane Moorsum in Downton Abbey, and DC Rebecca Shepherd in Vera.
Between 2015 and 2016, she portrayed Steph Farrow in Home Fires, before going on to play Helen Morris in Little Boy Blue, and PC Graves in Requiem. Other notable roles include Clare in Baptiste, Anna Sidhu in Unforgotten, Yvette in The Family Pile, and Cheryl in Smother.
More recently, she’s appeared as Ann in Tell Me Everything, Joan in The Jetty, Sam McAllister in A Very Royal Scandal, and Betina in The Chelsea Detective.
Of course, Grace fans will know her as Roy Grace’s mysteriously absent – now dead – wife Sandy Grace, a role she played between 2022 and 2025.
Ben Bishop stars as The Sun news editor Ben O’Driscoll
Hampshire-born Ben Bishop, 50, stars as Ben in the cast of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards on Channel 5. He’s been on our screens ever since 2019, and has appeared in multiple TV dramas including Holby Blue, Ashes to Ashes, Titanic, and Hunderby.
Between 2010 and 2013, Ben Bishop played DC Finley Mansell in period crime drama Whitechapel. More recently, he’s popped up in episodes of Whitstable Pearl, Endeavour, Babylon, and Call the Midwife.
Lorraine Burroughs portrays Angelica
Brummie Lorraine Burroughs, 45, stars as Angelica. But she is arguably best known for portraying DS Winsome Jackman in DCI Banks, a popular role she played between 2010 and 2012.
Other notable roles include Jess in All About George, Sarah Yates in Spooks: Code 9, Fin in Lip Service, Rhianna Parkes in Top Boy, and Virginia Devereaux in Pennyworth. In 2021, Lorraine portrayed Etta Cornwell in the secret service drama Red Election. That same year, the actress also played Helen in thriller Close to Me.
More recently, she’s starred as Claudia in the deliciously dark drama Sweet Pea, as well as Elaine in The Madame Blanc Mysteries.
Theatre fans will know her role in the play The Mountaintop for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in 2010. Her multiple film roles have included Trix Warren in Fast Girls, Jamal in 5lbs of Pressure, and Janie in The Glass Man.
Full cast list of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards:
Martin Clunes stars as Huw Edwards.
Osian Morgan plays Ryan.
Sian Reese Williams portrays Carys.
Jason Hughes is Mick.
Chanel Cresswell stars as Scarlet.
Claire Calbraith plays Victoria.
Lorraine Burroughs portrays Angelica.
Ben Bishop stars as Ben.
Mudtown’s Aisha Maye Hunte stars as Sasha.
In Flight‘s Joseph Loane plays Alex.
Fallout: Tales of a Junktown Ranger star Chris Jared is the Security Guard.
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