Covering a sacred ceremony

Huw Edwards, the 61-year-old BBC broadcaster, has spoken about his excitement and anxiety ahead of covering King Charles' coronation on Saturday. Edwards will be the voice of the BBC for the historic event, and he has described the scale of the occasion as "daunting".

In an interview with Radio Times magazine, Edwards explained that his anxiety is due in part to the fact that the event is a hybrid of celebration and solemn religious ceremony. "The fact that it's a hybrid," he said, "adds to the professional anxiety. It’s a celebration of the crowning of a King and Queen, but also at the heart, this is a very solemn religious ceremony, with parts that the Archbishop of Canterbury would refer to as sacred. That is clearly not fun and games. There are even things in the service that you cannot show!"

Edwards also commented on the BBC's approach to covering the event, noting that the network will need to adapt to appeal to a modern audience. He acknowledged that younger people may be less favorable towards the monarchy, but he argued that there is still a lot of interest in the event. "There is a lot of money going into coverage on social media, which is absolutely right. The BBC would be crazy not to invest in those platforms," he said.

Edwards also reflected on the significance of the coronation for the British monarchy, noting that the event is of global interest. "Even when the Palace talks about downsizing, it’s still an event of global interest, not only for the Commonwealth but further afield. There will be a big audience for it," he said.

In conclusion, Huw Edwards is excited and nervous about covering King Charles' coronation, which he describes as a daunting event due to its scale and hybrid nature. He believes that the BBC will need to adapt its coverage to appeal to a modern audience, and he is optimistic that the event will attract a large and diverse viewership.