Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister who later became a television personality on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, has died at the age of 78. Her death was announced on 10 July 2026.
A life in politics and entertainment
Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone (later Maidstone and the Weald) for 23 years, from 1987 to 2010. She held junior ministerial roles in the departments of Social Security, Employment, and as prisons minister at the Home Office. Despite never reaching the Cabinet, she became a household name through her post-parliamentary television career, appearing as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and finishing runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Her persona often blended the roles of admonitory maiden aunt and pantomime dame—she performed in pantomime twice, at Dartford in 2011 and High Wycombe in 2012. However, colleagues noted that behind her strident public image, she was often nervous and shy.
Political views and controversies
Widdecombe was a staunch conservative on social issues: she opposed abortion and LGBTQ+ rights liberalisation, was Eurosceptic, a climate change sceptic, and supported the reintroduction of the death penalty. A notable exception to her right-wing stance was her resolute opposition to fox hunting. Her religious views led her to convert to Catholicism in 1993, following the Church of England's decision to ordain women priests.
In 2019, she was expelled from the Conservative Party after campaigning for Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, for which she served briefly as an MEP for the South West. She stood as the Brexit Party candidate in Plymouth at the 2019 general election, receiving only 5% of the vote.
Early life and career
Born in Bath on 4 October 1947, Widdecombe was the daughter of James Widdecombe, a naval officer, and Rita (née Plummer). Her elder brother Malcolm became an Anglican vicar. After being turned down by Oxford, she studied Latin at Birmingham University, then completed a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. At Oxford, she became heavily involved with the Oxford Union, serving as treasurer and secretary, and had her only known romantic relationship with Colin Maltby.
After university, she worked in marketing for Unilever and served as a local councillor on Runnymede district council. She later worked in financial administration at London University for 12 years while seeking a parliamentary seat. After more than 100 interviews, she was finally selected for the safe Conservative seat of Maidstone and was elected in 1987.
Ministerial roles and clashes
Under Prime Minister John Major, Widdecombe became a junior minister in the Department of Social Security in 1990, moved to Employment in 1993, and became prisons minister in 1995 under Home Secretary Michael Howard. She clashed with Howard over his handling of the prison service, notably after the sacking of prison service head Derek Lewis. Widdecombe later famously said Howard had “something of the night” about him, a comment that damaged his leadership bid. In her memoirs, she described him as vindictive and gloating.
As prisons minister, she faced controversy over the handcuffing of female prisoners during childbirth. The policy allowed handcuffing on the way to hospital but not during labour. Her robust defence earned her the nickname “Doris Karloff”.
Post-parliamentary television career
After retiring from the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe was disappointed not to be offered a peerage by David Cameron, whom she had not supported for party leader. She then embarked on a television career, appearing on Have I Got News for You and as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, where she lasted nine weeks with professional partner Anton Du Beke. She later toured with Du Beke and performed in pantomime with Craig Revel Horwood. In 2012, she had a non-singing role in Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment at Covent Garden.
In 2018, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, finishing second to drag queen Courtney Act. Widdecombe wrote several novels while still an MP and later wrote columns for the Daily Express, as well as briefly serving as an agony aunt for the Guardian. Her memoir, Strictly Ann, was published in 2013. She is survived by a niece and two nephews.
