Huw Edwards’s new Facebook update has been met with an unexpected outcry of support amid claims the broadcaster is lining up a “comeback attempt”.

The 64-year-old convict updated his profile on Sunday with a carefully composed black-and-white headshot featuring him in a suit jacket with white stubble and a subtle smile.

The convicted sex offender, who received a suspended sentence for possessing indecent images of children, has also reactivated his Instagram account with 94,000 followers.

The move has been condemned by media commentators and victims’ families, who say Mr Edwards appears to be testing the waters for a return to public life despite being a sex offender.

The disgraced ex-BBC presenter has sparked further outrage after appearing to receive social media endorsements from former colleagues.

Former BBC Radio Wales broadcaster Wyn Thomas commented: “Looking good Huw.”

Whille Labour councillor Chris Bissex-Foster also shared well wishes.

Another Facebook “friend” told him to “hurry back” while one more bemoaned the paedophile’s absence from public life as a “huge loss”.

Huw Edwards admitted to making indecent images of children | PA

And Plaid Cymru councillor Terry Davies added in Welsh: “You’re worth the world Huw.”

Mr Davies told The Sun he was not supporting Edwards – but rather made contact to start a discussion.

Former BBC presenter Danny Kelly went on to tell GB News that some commenters would “regret the day they made these comments so publicly”.

The remarks followed Edwards’s reappearance on social media with a professionally-taken headshot, sparking speculation that he is positioning himself for a comeback.

Mr Kelly said that supportive comments from current and former BBC names were “astonishing”, arguing that Edwards “still hasn’t personally apologised.”

“The only time that this rat apologised was through the solicitors and the barristers just before he was sentenced,” he said.

“He hasn’t made any mea culpa, he hasn’t made any personal apology, and the only person Huw Edwards cares about is Huw Edwards.”

Mr Kelly argued that the BBC already had “a pretty chequered reputation when it comes to paedophiles stalking their corridors”, and claimed supportive posts for Edwards reinforced a perception the corporation protects its own.

Mr Kelly went on to say that Edwards is “damaged goods” and unlikely to ever work on mainstream British television again, adding: “Maybe YouTube or a podcast.”

The ex-BBC man was also pressed on speculation that Mr Edwards may now be planning to resume paid work after removing his £4.75 million Dulwich property from the market – to which he jabbed: “No one wants to buy a paedo’s house.”

He added that the “only route” back for the disgraced broadcaster would be “a public apology” followed by online work rather than television.

“No one will touch him in the UK mainstream media,” Mr Kelly said.

“But YouTube is littered with ex-presenters who’ve made a living on podcasts.”

Huw Edwards was one of the highest paid presenters at the BBC | Getty

Mr Kelly said licence fee-payers should be reminded that Mr Edwards continued to receive public money after the first allegations against him were made.

“Whilst he was suspended, the BBC paid his salary,” he said.

“The licence fee-payer needs to understand that Huw Edwards benefited nearly a quarter of a million pounds of our cash because he spun the BBC a yarn and a lie that he hadn’t done anything, and the BBC paid him.”

Mr Edwards remains on the sex offenders’ register following a suspended prison sentence. He has not issued any public personal apology outside of statements made through his lawyers.