Ann Widdecombe dead aged 78: Ex-Tory MP who became Strictly Come Dancing & Celebrity Big Brother star has died
FORMER Tory MP Ann Widdecombe has died aged 78.
The ex-Cabinet minister also famously appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and finished runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother.
Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP in her Maidstone constituency for over two decades.
The outspoken ex-MEP also spent time as Education Minister and Prisons Minister in then Prime Minister John Major‘s cabinet.
But after retiring from Parliament in 2010, Widdecombe swapped the Commons for the ballroom and starred in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Ann went on to appear in ITV favourite Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished runner-up to Aussie singer Courtney Act.
Issuing a statement, her management said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.
“Her life and career were driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service.
“She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK.
“Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities.
“As Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show, ‘we get one go this side of eternity, one go.
“‘Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, that’s my philosophy’.”
“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”
One of her last TV appearances came just last month, when she attended a Ladies Lunch club in Jersey as a guest speaker.
Speaking to ITV, she joked Reform UK and the namesake Reform parties in the Channel Islands were “slightly different”.
Ann was born in Bath, Somerset, on October 4, 1947.
Her father, James Murray Widdecombe CB OBE, was Head of Naval Supplies & Transport at the Ministry of Defence.
Before venturing into the world of politics, she started her career in marketing at Unilever in 1973.
Two years later, she became senior administrator at London University, where she stayed until 1987.
Ann served as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 and was also a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
Tributes have flooded in from across the world of politics, including from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
He wrote: “When Ann Widdecombe decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost.
“The voters loved her. She played a decisive role in getting Brexit over the line and will be missed by us all.”
Widdecombe’s former Tory colleague Nadine Dorries hailed her as “Aunty Ann” in a touching tribute on X.
She penned: “So very sad to hear the news that Ann Widdecombe has passed away.
“An incredible parliamentarian who knew Burke backwards and never received the recognition she deserved.
“She was a fearsome campaigner who gave barnstorming speeches at Conference and captivated the chamber in the Commons.
“As a new MP I jokingly referred to her as ‘Aunty Ann,’ as she knew the answer to every question and was a kindly mentor and guide.”
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said the news of Ann’s passing was “devastating” and described her as “absolutely fearless”.
He told GB News: “Utterly devastating. She was a true legend in the world of politics and the world of media.
“She was a fantastic person to work with, with her experience and her very strong views.
“Whether you loved her views or not… she was so remarkable and an incredible orator. She would have the audience absolutely spellbound.”
Famed for being a vocal politician, she once remarked about her then boss Michael Howard that “there is something of the night about him”.
Her comments lead the ex-Tory leader to be forever satirized as a vampire.
In 2019, she sensationally quit the Tories and defected to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.
And she caused a stir when she joined her fellow Brexit Party MEPs as they turned their back during the EU anthem.
That same year she branded Theresa May the worst Prime Minister since Anthony Eden.
She most recently supported Reform and served as the party’s justice and immigration adviser.
Health Secretary James Murray said Ann was “never shy of having quite firm views”.
He told Times Radio: “I think she’s been such a large part of our politics for many years.
“I mean, she was never shy of having quite firm views and sharing them quite willingly.
“I can’t say I always agreed with her views, but she was such a part of our politics.
“I think everyone can kind of recognise the contribution that she made to politics and the role that she played in our public life.”
Alongside her political career, Ann was an accomplished author, with several novels, autobiographies and works of non-fiction to her name.
Perhaps her most memorable TV appearance was in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing, when she was partnered with Anton du Beke.
Ann danced her way through to week nine, providing some hilarious performances along the way.
Speaking on their time together, Anton joked: “I spent some time with some incredible women . . . even Ann.
“I say: ‘Even Ann’. She was a pioneer, the first one who flew in on set.
“Everyone gets flown in these days from above stage.”
She proved to be just as outspoken when she finished second in CBB in for the show’s 21st series in 2021.
Ann frequently clashed with her housemates and later slammed them for “snowflakery”.
She told The Sun: “They were largely very sensible people when I was doing it – but there was still a certain amount of snowflakery around.
“We’re the generation that had to get on with it. I didn’t do snowflakey-ness, and endless hugging and all this sort of stuff. Not my scene at all.
“I actually said at one point, have you noticed how much people talk about themselves?
“It somewhat irritated me, but that’s part of Big Brother.”
The political heavyweight also appeared on shows such as Celebrity Fit Club, 24 Hours In The Past and ITV’s Sugar Free Farm.
Ann was also known for her documentaries, which included Channel 5’s The World’s Most Luxurious Prison.
