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Outraged viewers have condemned Huw Edwards' "disgraceful" sentence following a disturbing TV drama detailing his crimes.

The disgraced broadcaster, 64, avoided prison despite pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children. His case was examined in Channel 5's Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards on Tuesday evening, in which Martin Clunes portrayed the presenter.

The 90-minute programme depicted how Edwards groomed a teenager, paying him for sexual photographs and videos. Following its broadcast, one viewer remarked: "First time in ages I flicked on terrestrial telly - and wow, it laid bare exactly what a monster he was." Another encapsulated public fury by stating: "He should be watching this behind bars." A third viewer commented: "His sentence was disgraceful, considering what a sick creep he was."

Nearly two million individuals tuned in to watch Clunes, 64, depict the broadcaster, who led a vile double life. He received acclaim for his "compelling" and "career-defining" performance.

The programme showed Edwards sentenced to a six-month prison term, suspended for two years. Viewers described the drama as compelling but also as "uncomfortable" as it exposed the sick nature of Edwards' crimes.

"I don't get why Huw isn't in prison. He needs to pay for what he's done. It's fact," one viewer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another on the platform stated: "Watching Power. Martin Clunes is excellent but it's very uncomfortable viewing. How did Huw Edwards escape prison?"

Katie Jones, a mother who viewed the programme, posted online: "I watched simply because I wanted to understand why NO jail time for EDWARDS. Was it cos he claimed to be suffering from a mental breakdown? It's a must watch - difficult subject told well."

A stunned viewer concurred: "He should have been jailed. He's a paedophile. He's not sorry."

Edwards paid a troubled teenager thousands of pounds, which the lad spent on drugs. The youngster was portrayed by Emmerdale actor Osian Morgan. Osian, who also appeared in Waterloo Road in 2023, received acclaim for his performance in the distressing drama.

Father-of-five Edwards was charged following the arrest of another paedophile, Alex Williams, who had transmitted him 377 images via WhatsApp.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard the star, who was the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten for 20 years, sent 41 indecent images of children, some depicting a victim aged between seven and nine.

Child protection charities have condemned the sentencing.

Emma Hardy, of the Internet Watch Foundation, said: "We must never forget children are at the heart of this story - children who have suffered, and who suffer again each time imagery of them at their most vulnerable is reshared.

"Perhaps most worryingly, there is nothing to stop this happening again.

"WhatsApp, and other apps which use the extreme end-to-end form of encryption, are still failing to prevent the upload of known child sexual abuse imagery.

"While some platforms are now choosing not to use this kind of encryption because of safety fears, there remain whole swathes of the internet where this dangerous and illegal content can still be shared undetected and unopposed.

"The tools to help stop the next Huw Edwards are here, they work, and they do not impact on individuals' privacy. It's time to use them."