Huw Edwards 'ordered' to delete tweet of himself with a Welsh flag by BBC bosses
The newsreader posted the image to spoof yesterday's breakfast TV 'patriotism' row over a Government minister's large British flag on display in his office
Huw Edwards has said he was 'ordered' to delete a tweet of himself with a Welsh flag by his BBC bosses.
The 59-year-old who presents the broadcaster's nightly News at Ten programme, posted the tongue-in-cheek tweet in response to the online attacks yesterday against his colleague, Naga Munchetty.
Munchetty, who co-presents BBC Breakfast with Charlie Stayt, got embroiled in an 'anti-patriotism' row after a joke was made during a chat with Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick about the size of the British flag on display in his office.
Pictured stifling her laughter, Munchetty later 'liked' some tweets which criticised the sudden and increasing popularity of the Union Jack as a backdrop during various governmental interviews.
She later apologised on social media, stating that the tweets to which she'd given the thumbs up 'did not reflect the views of herself or the broadcaster'.
However, earlier today on his own Twitter page, Edwards posted the photo of himself standing in front of a resplendent Red Dragon, along with the message, "Flags are now mandatory — very pleased with my new backdrop for BBC News at Ten."
Nevertheless, less than a few hours later, he tweeted again saying, "Gutted. My pro-flag tweet has been cut down in its prime. By order" - with a background now showing a flag with the BBC logo instead.
He added: "But it will be back tomorrow, by popular demand", followed a rugby ball emoji - a reference to Wales' clash against France in Paris this weekend, in which Alun Wyn Jones' boys hope to secure their fifth Six Nations Grand Slam title.
"Meanwhile, enjoy this magnificent flag - one of my favourites", adds Edwards.
The tweet comes after a flurry of pro-Wales activity on Edwards' Twitter page. He'd previously stepped in when the current performance of the Welsh rugby team was criticised in The Telegraph.
'Every Grand Slam ranked - and why Wales would be the 'worst' ever winners if they beat France, " ran the newspaper's headline, to which Edwards responded, "Not like the The Telegraph to be so effortlessly one-sided... Cymru am Byth!"
And he also had a pop at Conservative MP and Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg for describing Welsh as "a foreign language" earlier this week.
