Former Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke has expressed his devastation at the death of his former partner Ann Widdecombe. The 78-year-old former Tory minister was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, with police launching a murder investigation.
According to Anton du Beke, he had the 'most brilliant time' with Widdecombe on the hit BBC dance show in 2010, describing her as 'fun', 'upbeat', and 'positive'. The professional dancer said he would 'remember her fondly and miss her'.
Widdecombe was a prominent figure in British politics, serving as a prisons minister and a member of the Brexit Party. She also represented South West England as an MEP in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.
The police investigation into Widdecombe's death is ongoing, with detectives from Devon and Cornwall police working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman described the incident as 'tragic' and said the inquiry was in its early stages.
Ann Widdecombe's time on Strictly Come Dancing was a memorable one, with the former Tory minister becoming an unexpected fan favourite despite her low scores from the judges. She described her experience on the show as 'tremendous' and said it was 'the time of my life'.