Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister who later became a prominent voice for Brexit and an unlikely television star on Strictly Come Dancing, has died at the age of 78. Her death, announced by her management Cloud9 Management on Friday, brings to a close a political and public career that spanned more than three decades, taking her from the Home Office to the European Parliament and onto the dance floor. For many British viewers, she was a figure of both political controversy and eccentric entertainment, remembered as much for her uncompromising social conservatism as for her comedic routines with Anton Du Beke.
Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone (later Maidstone and the Weald) from 1987 until she stood down at the 2010 general election. During Sir John Major’s government, she held ministerial roles at the Home Office—where she was responsible for prisons and immigration—and at the Department of Employment. In opposition, she served as shadow home secretary and shadow health secretary. She was known for her socially conservative views, opposing the legality of abortion and wider rights for the LGBTQ+ community, and faced criticism for defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to their beds. One of the most famous moments of her early career was her description of fellow Conservative Michael Howard as having “something of the night about him,” a remark that defined their long-running feud.
“A look at the life and career of Ann Widdecombe, from Tory minister to Brexit champion to reality TV star.”
After leaving Parliament, Widdecombe reinvented herself as a television personality. In 2010 she appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Anton Du Beke. Despite regularly scoring low marks from the judges, the public kept her in the competition for 10 weeks, and she eventually finished in sixth place. She was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, and also guest-hosted Have I Got News For You, appeared in a Louis Theroux documentary, and performed at the Royal Opera House. Her management described her philosophy as “we get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
Widdecombe’s political comeback came in 2019 when she joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. She was elected as an MEP for South West England in the European Parliament, serving until the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. When the Brexit Party was renamed Reform UK in 2023, she followed Farage and became the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson, a role she held until her death. Nigel Farage credited her with playing a “decisive role” in getting Brexit “over the line,” saying: “When Ann Widdecombe decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost. The voters loved her.”
Why does this matter for UK readers? Widdecombe’s career mirrors the shifting political landscape of the last 40 years. She was a mainstream Tory minister who later became a standard-bearer for Euroscepticism and a key figure in the Brexit movement. Her journey from the Commons to the Brexit Party to Reform UK reflects the realignment of British politics around Europe and immigration. At the same time, her second act as a reality TV star made her a household name beyond politics, showing how politicians can cross into entertainment in an era of celebrity culture. Her outspoken social conservatism also placed her at the centre of debates about traditional values and the role of faith in public life.
Q: Who was Ann Widdecombe? Ann Widdecombe was a British politician and television personality. She served as a Conservative MP and minister under John Major, later joined the Brexit Party and Reform UK, and became a vocal advocate for leaving the EU. She also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Q: Why was Ann Widdecombe controversial? She held strongly socially conservative views, including opposing abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and defended the policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to their beds. She also clashed with fellow Tories, most famously calling Michael Howard “something of the night,” and was a polarising figure in the Brexit debate.
Q: What was Ann Widdecombe’s Strictly Come Dancing legacy? She appeared on the show in 2010, aged 62, and became a fan favourite despite poor dance scores. The public voted to keep her in for 10 weeks, and her partnership with Anton Du Beke produced memorable, often comedic routines. She later said Strictly opened doors to pantomime and opera appearances.
What happens next? Tributes have poured in from political figures across the spectrum. Nigel Farage called her a “force of nature,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described her as “formidable.” Her management has asked for privacy for her family. Widdecombe’s legacy is likely to be debated for years: to some, she was a principled conservative who put country before party; to others, she was a divisive figure whose views sat outside the mainstream. But few would deny she lived by her own motto—that life is not a dress rehearsal.