The Good Morning Britain presenters looked back on the politician’s life after the news of her death.
Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway hosted Friday’s Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)
Good Morning Britain presenters Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway have issued a breaking news update.
The hosts were fronting the ITV programme on Friday, July 10, when they announced the death of politician Ann Widdecombe.
The former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman has died aged 78.
A statement from her agents read: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe, DSG.”
It continued: “We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends.”
The statement went on to say that her life and career were “driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service” and that Ann loved the “cut and thrust of political debate” and was “still actively campaigning for Reform UK” after leaving Parliament 16 years ago.
“For many, of course, she will be best (or worst?) remembered for her unforgettable appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, defying the judges week-after-week as the public delighted in her unsuccessful attempts to follow the choreography of the long-suffering Anton Du Beke,” it added.
Ann was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and reached the semi-finals of Strictly in 2010.
Opening the headlines on Good Morning Britain, Ranvir and Kate announced Ann’s death, with a guest reporter appearing on the programme to discuss her life and career.
Kate shared: “The breaking news that we’re bringing you this morning is that the former minister MP and MPE Ann Widdicombe has died at the age of 78.”
Ranvir continued: “A long time Conservative politician, she later joined the Brexit party in 2019 which then became Reform UK. She also, you’ll well remember, gained public attention and some endearment of course for taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
“Our reporter David Harper is here with more. The news just came from the family in the last few moments.”
Journalist David went on: “Just before we were coming on air, a very familiar face in British politics really, as well known outside of Westminster as she was inside.
“Her father worked for the Ministry of Defence, she was born in Bath but spent a lot of her childhood travelling around, spent quite a bit of time in Singapore growing up but it was when she got to Oxford University really that her political career really ignited.
“She stood twice for Westminster, was eventually elected as Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987 and as we’ve been saying, was quite a vocal voice towards the right of British politics right from the beginning.
“She brought in a private members bill to look at amending the abortion act, and when John Major became Prime Minister, she was promoted, and became a Minister, eventually in the Home Office, quite famously fell out with Michael Howard Home Secretary, that comment about him having something of the night about him got a lot of media attention.
“When the Conservatives lost the election in 1997 she became a fixture in William Hague’s shadow cabinet, she became shadow Health Secretary, eventually shadow Home Secretary and then decided to step down at the 2010 General Election.
“That certainly wasn’t the end though, because as we’ve been saying, very famously, all over TV. She appeared on Strictly, she came runner-up in Celebrity Big Brother as well before eventually making a return to politics.
“As you said, this time not for the Conservatives, she stood as an MEP, served in Brussels in 2019 right to the end of 2019 when Britain left the EU and even then that wasn’t the end of the story.
“A firm fixture in radio and TV, a woman of strong Christian and moral views, honoured by Pope Benedict in fact.
“Never married, never had children, never really talked about relationships. Her cats, I think, were her constant companion.”
Concluding the segment, Kate said: “We haven’t heard about a long illness, have we? So I think it took everybody a little bit by surprise. I think she was even still doing various broadcasting things up until recently.”
David added that Ann had appeared at events and written novels in recent years, replying: “We really knew nothing about this until this morning.”
Ranvir said: “She lived a full life, you can certainly say that.” She added: “Sad news there that Ann Widdecombe has passed away.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
