Star of Strictly Come Dancing and former Tory Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe has died, aged 78.
The news was announced by Widdecombe's management team.
In a statement released on social media on Friday, Cloud 9 Management said her life was "driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service".
The message on Instagram read: "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. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”
Paying tribute, her management team said the former MP “loved the cut and thrust of political debate” and was a “consummate professional”.
What to Read Next
They added: “Never afraid to send herself up, Ann loved her musical tribute by Victoria Wood and was always game for a laugh, happy to play up to her public persona as a grumpy old woman or the panto villain," it continued.
“For many, of course, she will be best (or worst?) remembered for her unforgettable appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, defying the judges week-after-week as the public delighted in her unsuccessful attempts to follow the choreography of the long-suffering Anton Du Beke."
The statement continued: “A consummate professional and a delight to work with, indefatigable to the last, we know this news will come as a great shock to the many colleagues and friends she made along the way and our sympathies go to them and her family.”
Born in Bath, Widdecombe was known for holding traditional values and conservatism.
She had a famous public run-in with her then-Conservative colleague Michael Howard, when she was a Home Office minister and he was the Home Secretary, describing him as having “something of the night about him”.
She retired as an MP in 2010, having served the constituency of Maidstone and The Weald since 1987.
After her retirement, Widdecombe became a popular TV personality and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing the same year, where she was partnered by Anton du Beke, winning the support of some viewers despite receiving low marks from the judges.
She was a runner-up in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
She was a committed Brexiterr and later became a Brexit Party MEP under Nigel Farage, where she sat in the European Parliament until 2020 after winning the South West England seat.
In 2023, Widdecombe chose to follow Nigel Farage to his new party Reform UK, the successor to the Brexit Party, and, the following year, appeared at its party conference as Reform’s immigration spokesperson.
