Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has revealed he now locks every window and door in his home out of fear of being killed, following the death of his friend Ann Widdecombe. The former MEP and Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home in Haytor, aged 78.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from South Yorkshire, has been charged and is awaiting trial on suspicion of Ann's murder. Ann struck up a friendship with Craig after she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing.
Fear for his own safety
In a new interview, the BBC dance competition judge, 61, said Ann's death has made him reassess his home security out of fear that somebody could kill him.
"It's beyond disgusting," he said. Speaking to The Sun, Craig went on to say: "It's unfathomable and it's made me lock every window and door I've got, I have to say. It does terrify me."
Bond over pantomime
While he and Ann, who also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, had very opposing political views, they both bonded over pantomime. Craig described Ann as a "dear friend," after the pair worked together for three years on stage.
"Bless her heart and soul, she was a dear friend of mine," he said. Craig continued: "We did three years of panto together. We became good mates, and she was so good with the children in the company as well."
"She always spent time with them in between shows and brought them gifts." He went on to say that while he "didn't get on with Ann's politics," Ann was a "loving person".
Last contact
The pair spoke to one another just six days before Ann's death when she asked if he could make a guest appearance at an event for one of her charities. Speaking to the Mirror, Craig revealed he told Ann: "Yeah, that's absolutely fine, darling."
He said: "It's coming up in October. She wanted me to be a guest speaker at one of her charities, and I said, 'Yeah, that's absolutely fine, darling.' And the last thing she literally wrote was 'yippee' in lowercase letters, then capital Y, 'Yippee,' and then the last YIPPEE!!! was all in capital letters with three exclamation marks."
"And that was the last I ever heard from her. It was so tragic, the whole thing, but of course I'll fulfil that commitment. I'll dedicate it to Ann as well because she was an amazing human being, and she was brave; brave enough to come on Strictly and give me what for."
"And then we ended up working together really closely for three years after and became good friends, and we're still in contact to this day. Well, we were in contact to this very day. It's such a terrible thing that happened."
Kerry was charged following an investigation led by counter-terrorism police. A provisional trial date has been set for June 2027.
