Strictly to honour Ann Widdecombe with special tribute | UK News

Strictly Come Dancing might pay a special tribute to Ann Widdecombe following the announcement of her death on Thursday morning. Former MP Ann Widdecombe was found useless at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on the morning of July 9.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed on Friday that a homicide investigation had been launched into the circumstances surrounding her death. In a contemporary assertion, Devon and Cornwall Police said there may be “nothing to suggest it was politically motivated”. The drive also confirmed they’re no longer in search of any additional people in connection with her death, following the arrest of a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said that officers remained “open-minded” relating to a doable motive, and reassured the public that there was no perceived menace to wider society.

The arrest was made shortly after 9pm by officers from Counter violent extremism Police North East and South Yorkshire Police, appearing on behalf of the drive. There is no info to counsel the assault was terrorism-related, Longman told reporters on Sunday (July 12).

Miss Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, subsequently Maidstone and the Weald, and occupied a number of ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s administration. During her time in politics, Miss Widdecombe was a staunch Eurosceptic and backed the Vote Leave motion during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

She joined the Brexit Party in 2019 and represented South West England as an MEP in Brussels between 2019 and 2020. Miss Widdecombe signed up to Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK in 2023, which changed the Brexit Party, and featured at its get together convention the next 12 months as Reform’s immigration spokesperson.

Following her departure from the Commons, she took half in the BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, paired with Anton, who now sits as a decide on the beloved programme, and lasted until the competitors’s semi-finals courtesy of the public vote.

Now, stories counsel that Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke have requested a tribute for Ann when the forthcoming collection launches on our screens.

A source told The Sun: “Ann is a Strictly legend. Craig and Anton were keen to flag the idea to producers who agreed viewers would love to revisit Ann’s special moments. Bosses are likely to air a montage.”

The tributes got here after both Craig and Anton paid shifting homage to the 78-year-old. Craig wrote: “Despite the seemingly irreconcilable differences in our political views, I grew to admire and care for her enormously. Anne was warm, wickedly funny, deeply intelligent, and a genuinely joyous presence to be around. Beneath the formidable public persona was a kind and generous spirit, and someone I am proud to have called a friend.

“What occurred to her is unimaginably merciless. No one deserves such a horrific end. Rest in peace, darling Ann. You will probably be tremendously missed.”

Anton gushed: “I had the most good time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing. She turned a real buddy. She was enjoyable, she was upbeat, she was constructive, she was supportive, she was recreation – she wished to enter into the spirit of the entire thing and we had an unimaginable time together.

“On behalf of myself and the whole @bbcstrictly family, we are devastated by the news and our thoughts go out to her nearest and dearest and her whole family. We will all remember her fondly and miss her. Anton x.”