Broadcaster Jeremy Vine became visibly emotional on live television as he reported on the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and regular guest on his Channel 5 show. Vine revealed that a member of his team had been in contact with Widdecombe by chance on the day of her death.
"She loved coming on it. She loved your viewers and she loved you," guest Iain Dale told Vine, moving the presenter to tears. "You were part of her family and she really spoke very highly of you, and I know you went out of your way to be kind to her."
Widdecombe, who appeared on The Jeremy Vine Show more than 50 times, was known for her appearances debating political issues, as well as her sense of humor. One memorable segment featured her listening to Oasis for the first time, though she declared a preference for Cliff Richard and The Shadows.
Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire on suspicion of Widdecombe's murder. The former MP was found dead in her kitchen at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday. Authorities believe she was killed around midday on Wednesday.
Just five days before her death, Widdecombe had given a tour of her £600,000 Dartmoor home for the Quest television show Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House. The episode, filmed in 2022 and broadcast on July 2, included footage of her kitchen, garden, and property exterior. During the show, she spoke of her love for the "peace, quiet and solitude" of her remote retreat.
A suspect was seen on CCTV leaving his Rotherham estate shortly before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the day Widdecombe died. The footage appears to show him carrying a baton or pole over a foot long in his pocket. Neighbors described the man as a recluse who had become more introverted after his father's death the previous year. He was arrested later that night.
Devon and Cornwall Police stated there is no evidence to suggest the murder was politically motivated or terrorism-related. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman urged the public not to engage in speculation, emphasizing that it is unhelpful and distressing to Widdecombe's family and friends. The investigation is ongoing, and police are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the murder.
Widdecombe, a former MP for Maidstone and the Weald, also served as a Brexit Party MEP and spokesman for Reform UK. In the past year, MPs have been victims of a record number of crimes, including burglary, assault, and threats to kill, according to data from the National Police Chiefs Council.