Martin Clunes Praised For 'Extraordinary' And 'Sickening' Portrayal Of Huw Edwards In New Drama
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...
The Independent (2/5)
“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.”
The Guardian (3/5)
“[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.”
The Sun
“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.”
The Daily Mail (5/5)
“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.”
The Times (4/5)
“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.”
Metro (3/5)
“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.”
The Telegraph (4/5)
“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.”
The Standard (2/5)
“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.