Ann Widdecombe, the former politician and Strictly Come Dancing star, was found dead at her Dartmoor home on July 9, 2026, at the age of 78. A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police now treating the killing as terror-related after new evidence emerged.
Widdecombe's Haunting Words on Mortality
In a resurfaced 2010 appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Widdecombe spoke candidly about death. She said: 'None of us know how long we're going to live, and I could die tomorrow. But I could, if I followed my mother, for example, live another three decades. I do not know what's going to come up and what I'm going to do in that time. So I may be remembered neither for politics nor for Strictly, but for something else that I can't even foresee at the moment.'
She added: 'We get one go this side of eternity, one go. It's not a dress rehearsal. It's one go. You make the most of it and you take opportunities that come along that you like, and you go for it. That's my philosophy.' The audience applauded, and Norton praised her, saying it was 'well said'.
Strictly Partner Pays Tribute
Anton Du Beke, who partnered Widdecombe on Strictly, paid tribute on X before the murder probe was announced. He wrote: 'I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing, she became a real friend, she was fun, she was upbeat, she was positive, she was supportive, she was game, wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing.'
Political Leaders React
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Widdecombe as a 'distinguished politician' and called her death a 'significant loss'. He urged people to 'rise above any political differences' and said his thoughts were with her friends and family 'at this awful time'.
