Martin Clunes is standing by his work in the 5’s Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, after it faced criticism from its subject.

The Wuthering Heights star takes the lead in the feature-length drama, which aired on Tuesday night, telling the story of the ex-BBC News presenter’s very public fall from grace.

On the morning the drama aired, Clunes made an appearance on Good Morning Britain, where he was asked how he felt about Edwards’ recent comments slamming the TV movie.

“I appreciate he’s upset by the fact that we’ve made this programme,” the Bafta winner said.

“But [Edwards] would have reported on other [people’s] downfalls and other people’s disgraces [when he was working for BBC News].”

He added later in the conversation: “If anybody thinks it’s too soon, don’t watch it.

“I don’t think it’s too soon – I don’t know what the timetable is for these things.”

A 5 spokesperson responded to Edwards’ comments earlier this week saying: “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.

“It has been produced in accordance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”

Like Clunes, the broadcaster’s chief content officer brushed off the suggestion it was “too soon” for a TV drama about the Edwards scandal, insisting: “If you want to reach as many people as possible and highlight how grooming works and the insidiousness of grooming, drama is [the] most powerful way to do it.”

He also said that Power offered “a different side of the story”, while the show itself shone a light on the more “serious issue” of “the grooming of young men and abuse of power”.

Clunes has received widespread praise for his leading performance in the drama, although the response to the show itself has been decidedly more mixed.

Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is now streaming on 5’s catch-up service.

Martin Clunes has received widespread praise for his leading performance in a new drama about Huw Edwards, even if the show itself has proved to be more on the divisive side.

The Wuthering Heights star portrayed the disgraced BBC News anchor in Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards, a feature-length drama which aired on 5 (the broadcaster previously known as Channel 5) on Tuesday evening.

After the show aired, the Wuthering Heights actor received unanimous praise for his portrayal of Edwards.

However, reviews for the show itself were considerably more mixed, ranging from a lowly two stars in The Independent and The Standard to a perfect score in the Daily Mail.

Here’s a selection of what critics have had to say about Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards so far…

“Martin Clunes is in total go-for-broke mode in the title role, uncannily furrowing his brow to just the right degree and bringing overqualified Welsh-accented gravitas to a script that asks him to repeatedly sink to all kinds of mucky carnal urges. The project he’s in, though, doesn’t match him: it’s the kind of rush-job TV lobotomy that satisfies nothing but a viewer’s baser instincts.”

“[Martin Clunes] is horribly convincing in this ripped-from-the-headlines drama about the newsreader’s grooming scandal. You might not even be able to stomach it […]

“[Power] might not represent the pinnacle of drama – in truth, its eagerness to exist comes at the expense of nuance – but it does go an awfully long way to capture a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach.”

“Arguably, the most eerie element is Martin Clunes’s portrayal of Edwards. It isn’t an attempt to imitate the Welsh newsreader, but he’s captured his essence, particularly the wafer-thin false modesty and barely concealed narcissism.”

“Clunes delivers an extraordinary portrayal that captures the body language, demeanour and menace of the man without descending into impersonation. His Welsh accent (never a Clunes strong point) sometimes wavers, but his refusal to allow Edwards an ounce of sympathy does not.”

“Clunes didn’t initially seem to me like the obvious casting choice, but he is skilful and convincing as Edwards, blending irascibility, a thin skin and self-importance with genuine terror that the media would crucify him if it discovered his secret.

“[He] also looks the part, perfecting the trademark raised eyebrow and the very distinctive rhythm of his voice and the way he sat at the BBC desk.”

“Clunes strikes a balance between the meek Welsh competence, with the needy, boozing predator in dark rooms and eternal running gear, conducting Ryan to do his bidding like a schoolteacher would. There’s also the calculating curmudgeon, always covering his own back and admonishing perceived missteps.”

“Clunes bears little physical resemblance to Edwards and doesn’t make a great effort to mimic his Welsh accent. But he does copy the arms-along-the-desk pose and that slight curl of the lip.”

“Clunes plays [Edwards] with a sociopathic stare […] [Power] should be chilling – and it is, especially given the fact that ‘Ryan’s’ own words [have] undoubtedly informed what we see on screen. Unfortunately, the drama itself is hamstrung by some surprisingly tin-eared dialogue and equally shaky acting, rather sapping the whole thing of its potency.”

Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards is now streaming on 5’s catch-up service.