Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative Member of Parliament who later gained public recognition for her television appearances, has died at the age of 78. Her agents, Cloud 9 Management, confirmed her passing on Friday, stating, "It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe, DSG. We send our deepest condolences to Ann's family and friends."
Widdecombe's career transitioned from politics to entertainment after her parliamentary tenure. She was a contestant on the popular BBC show "Strictly Come Dancing," where she was partnered with professional dancer Anton Du Beke. Her participation in the show, which lasted until the tenth week, was noted for its entertaining and theatrical routines, leading to her becoming a fan favorite and a pop culture figure.
Following her "Strictly Come Dancing" stint, she also competed in the 2018 season of "Celebrity Big Brother," securing second place. During her time on the show, she faced criticism for comments that some housemates perceived as anti-LGBT.
Figures from broadcasting and politics have shared their memories of Widdecombe. Piers Morgan described her on X as a "charismatic, combative gem," noting her "wonderfully no-nonsense, straight-talking, highly-opinionated" style and calling her a "feisty, combative interviewee" who was "always great fun."
Jeremy Vine, a presenter on Channel 5, shared photos from his show, where Widdecombe was a frequent guest. He remembered her as "a friend of the programme, a regular panellist and a formidable politician who was never, ever afraid to express her views, but also had a great sense of humour and was always up for a laugh. Farewell to an icon."
Widdecombe's time on "Strictly Come Dancing" was notably successful, with seven Members of Parliament supporting a motion in December 2010 that "saluted" her and Anton Du Beke for "their achievement in putting a smile on the nation's faces." Among the signatories were David Amess and Therese Coffey, who later served as deputy prime minister.
She also ventured into stage acting, making her debut in a pantomime and later stepping in to play the Evil Queen in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," a role she had expressed interest in.
Widdecombe remained a public commentator until her death, writing opinion columns. She was also recently seen supporting Reform leader Nigel Farage ahead of the Clacton by-election.
Her private life was reportedly kept private, and it is known that she never married nor had children. She reprised her "Strictly" performance in a festive special in December 2018.