Former Conservative MP and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her remote Dartmoor bungalow, with her body undiscovered for approximately 24 hours. The 78-year-old was discovered in a pool of blood in her kitchen on Thursday at around 11:40am, after failing to appear on a television show the previous day.
Timeline of events
Widdecombe was last seen alive during a Talk TV interview at approximately 8am on Wednesday. She was scheduled to appear on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show at 1pm that same day but did not join the broadcast. A TV researcher sent her a message at 12:48pm requesting she join a Zoom call, but received no reply, and her phone went unanswered. Police believe she was attacked at around 12:30pm Wednesday.
The alarm was raised the next day when the ambulance service called officers to her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, at around 11:40am. Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries. The official cause of death has not yet been released.
Suspect arrested and released
Devon and Cornwall Police arrested a 26-year-old white male on suspicion of murder, but he has since been released from custody. Investigators have stated that the incident is not believed to be terror-related. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said: 'Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.'
Longman added: 'Detectives continue to carry out numerous inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.' He described the investigation as 'moving at a significant pace' and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Who was Ann Widdecombe?
Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, from 1987 to 2010. She held several ministerial positions under Prime Minister Sir John Major. After leaving the Commons, she appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, partnered with Anton du Beke, reaching the semi-finals through public votes.
In 2019, she joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party and served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England until 2020. She later became immigration and justice spokeswoman for Reform UK and remained active in media, appearing on TalkTV the day before her death.
Personal life and residence
Widdecombe lived alone in a remote bungalow in Haytor, Dartmoor. She had no children and was openly celibate. In an interview with The Times, she said: 'I think that the brute truth is that I've enjoyed being alone. I love my own company. I'm the best company I know – I mean, I can make myself laugh uproariously.'
A police cordon remains around her property as the investigation continues. Widdecombe's next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Police appeal for information
Longman appealed to the public: 'I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe.'
A major incident public portal has been set up on the Devon and Cornwall Police website for submitting information, images, or footage. Tips can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers.
