A repeat showing of Ann Widdecombe's 2022 appearance on a popular auction house show was broadcast on July 2, just six days before the former MP is believed to have been murdered in her home.
Ann Widdecombe and the show's host admired the view from the entrance of her home, which she bought in 2008 for her retirement and where she lived alone. During the episode, Widdecombe gave a tour of her home, including the entrance, garden, conservatory, gym, library, kitchen, and dining room.
Widdecombe chose the location 'quite deliberately to be as remote as I could, as was sensible.' The episode showed the gates to the bungalow, where cameras panned around the kitchen and some of its quirky details. Widdecombe led the cameras to her library, covered with books and antique items, saying 'All my life I said "I'm going to have a library when I retire, a proper library."'
On arrival to the property, details of the gate and driveway were clearly visible, with the home visible on the background on a hill. The hosts called it a 'lovely little house' before arriving at the doorstep, showing the entrance while Widdecombe's windows next to the door appeared to be open. There is no suggestion that the airing of the episode inspired or led to Widdecombe's death.
A 28-year-old man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested in connection with Widdecombe's death on Saturday night. Counter terrorism detectives have since taken the lead on the investigation after new evidence came to light. One neighbour claimed to have seen the 28-year-old hide a 'wooden stick or an iron bar' under his t-shirt before he took off in his rusty car, allegedly to drive nearly 300 miles south to Dartmoor.
Neighbours said the man had shut down and changed after the death of his dad before Christmas. 'He was someone you'd have a conversation with but that changed after his dad died,' a neighbour said. 'He became very quiet. He kept himself to himself and wouldn't really speak to anyone.'
Widdecombe was a member of Nigel Farage's Brexit party after serving as a Conservative minister. She joined Reform UK as its immigration spokesperson in 2023. Mr Farage said the party is trawling through emails to check any patterns of abuse directed at Widdecombe, but has not found anything. Reform's Richard Tice described her as an 'absolute colossus, a legend in all our lifetime.'
A timeline of Ann Widdecombe's death shows that her management announced her death on the morning of Friday, July 10. A murder probe was launched after her body was found 'covered in blood from sustaining a serious head wound' at her Dartmoor home in Devon on Thursday. Devon and Cornwall Police said they believe the attack took place on Wednesday, 8 July, at around 12:30pm.
Police have released fresh details, saying that Widdecombe was attacked 24 hours before she was found. They believe the attack took place on Wednesday, 8 July, at around 12:30pm. Their theory ties in with the revelation that Widdecombe stopped responding to text messages at 12:19pm. She had been due to appear via Zoom on a Channel 5 show but did not show. One producer repeatedly messaged her, asking if she was 'OK' and trying to call her, but the WhatsApps went unopened and unanswered.
A second suspect, a 28-year-old British national, is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Friday evening, July 11. Police provide an update on the investigation, saying that the force is not looking for a second suspect, and there is no risk to the wider public. Counter terrorism police take the lead in the investigation after new information and evidence came to light. The 28-year-old arrested in Rotherham on suspicion of murder is re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
