BBC bosses are braced for a backlash over Huw Edwards getting his six-figure salary despite being off-air for eight months.

Edwards, 62, is expected to be named as the broadcaster’s highest-paid newsreader in its annual report in July.

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He got £439,000 last year, over £100,000 more than colleagues Clive Myrie and Reeta Chakrabarti.

He has not appeared on TV since July, when he was suspended on full pay over claims he paid £35,000 to a young person who sent him explicit images.

Senior staff are said to be bracing for criticism, while some claimed an internal probe was unlikely to conclude soon.

An insider said: “It’s terrible for the licence fee payer if Huw is earning so much but not working.”

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They added: “The BBC is getting so much value for money from other people who are doing endless hours.”

Another fellow presenter allegedly described the continued payments as “immoral”.

Every year chiefs at the BBC publish the salaries of staff paid more than £178,000 in the 12 months to March, meaning Edwards’ pay will be calculated this week.

The Corporation apologised in February after an independent probe concluded concerns raised by the young person’s parents were not handled quickly enough.

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The youngster’s mum said at the time: “It’s a relief this independent report backs up what we’ve said all along — the BBC simply failed to take this seriously.

“If anything, this underlines how vital it is we get answers, for everyone’s sake.”

The BBC refused to comment on “an internal employment process”.