Following the news of a murder investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death, Adam Boulton was slammed for making ‘vile’ comments about her.
The former Conservative MP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday (9 July), with a police update this afternoon reporting that she’s believed to have been attacked 24 hours before this.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Widdecombe’s murder on Friday afternoon, but Devon and Cornwall police confirmed this morning that he had been released and was no longer part of the investigation.
Speaking on live TV after news of the murder probe, Boulton labelled the Reform UK spokeswoman a ‘spinster’ and an ‘old maid’.
The former Sky News presenter has now issued an apology for his ‘mistaken view’.
Boulton issued an apology earlier today. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
The political commentator had said during a TV appearance: “She was very much a spinster, by the end I think you’d probably describe her as an old maid. Reportedly, she claimed that she was a virgin.”
Boulton was instantly hit with backlash, with his remarks slammed as ‘vile’ and initially, he refused to apologise saying he sticks ‘to the facts’.
However, earlier this morning, he took to X with ‘AN APOLOGY’.
“I was seriously wrong and insensitive in one of the several media appearances I made yesterday in reaction to the death of Ann Widdecombe. I got the timing and tone of my initial word portrait of her wrong,” Boulton wrote.
“Of course I shared, and share, the horror at her murder and the respect for her remarkable and feisty political career. I also know that many people loved her for her subsequent showbiz stardom. Her untimely death is a horrible thing.”
“My mistaken view was that in the context of rolling news coverage, I was being asked to contribute as an obituarist who has known her and interacted with her since the 1980s.”
Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday. (Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
Continuing, the journalist said: “This approach was premature. At no point was I expressing my personal feelings about her, that’s not what I do.
“I was discussing her life in the round, based on the record of known facts and what she has said about herself, along with some recollections of our personal interactions. My choice of words on the spur of the moment was clumsy.
“I did not intend to offend though obviously I did.”
He also followed-up to say: “I am a freelance contributor to a number of outlets. I am responsible for what I say, not those who I work for. I make this apology freely because I now recognise I got this badly wrong. It is on me. I also apologise to @SkyNews and @TimesRadio for the unwarranted criticism they have received for my own mistake.”
Widdecombe was found dead at her home at around 11:40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
Police have now said it’s believed she was attacked on Wednesday at around 12:30pm.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said her death is being treated as suspicious but added: “We do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.”
He said: “Our inquiries are moving at pace for a suspect who is believed to be a white male.”
Featured Image Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Jess Battison
Ann Widdecombe was attacked nearly 24 hours before she was found dead, police reveal in latest update
Follow us on Google DiscoverPolice believe Ann Widdecombe was attacked in her home nearly 24 hours before she was found dead and are hunting for a suspect.
The 78-year-old was found at her home in Hayton on Dartmoor on Thursday (9 July) after sustaining injuries.
She had reportedly been scheduled to appear as a guest on Channel 5‘s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon but didn’t appear or respond to messages.
In a new update today, Devon and Cornwall Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said Widdecombe’s death is being treated as suspicious but ‘we do not believe there is a wider risk to the public’.
He said: “We believe the attack took place on Wednesday July 8 at around 12.30pm.
“Our inquiries are moving at pace for a suspect who is believed to be a white male.”
Earlier this morning, police confirmed that a man who was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday had been released and is no longer part of the investigation.
Widdecombe had become Reform UK’s Immigration and Justice spokesperson. (Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
Widdecombe was a former Conservative MP, Brexit Party MEP and subsequently had become a Reform UK spokeswoman.
She made her final public appearance on Wednesday via remote video link on TalkTV.
ITV News first reported that Widdecombe was then due to be a guest, again via video call from her home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm the same day.
A researcher is believed to have spoken to the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant in the afternoon to set up this interview.
After that call, they exchanged messages with Widdecombe and her last message was received at 12:19pm.
But when the researcher messaged the former MP again at 12:48, asking her to join the Zoom link in preparation for the interview, she didn’t reply.
Voice calls and messages to ask if everything was ok then remained unanswered.
As Widdecombe was a regular on the show, the research team became concerned by her ‘uncharacteristic lack of response’. They contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday, when she was found by emergency services.
Police are hunting for a white male suspect. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Dan Walker, of Channel 5 also clarified the efforts to get in touch with her ahead of the scheduled call.
“Really sad news about Ann Widdecombe. Horrible to think about what she went through. To clarify something we said on the programme tonight… Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show,” he wrote on X.
“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her. This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.”
Devon and Cornwall Police previously said the case of her death is ‘not being treated as terrorism’ and there is ‘no information’ at this time to suggest it was a ‘politically-motivated crime’.
The force has asked people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.
Featured Image Credit: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Jess Battison
Ann Widdecombe missed TV appearance the day before she was found dead in her home
On Wednesday (8 July), the day before she was found dead, Ann Widdecombe appeared on TalkTV via remote video link.
However, she was also reportedly set to be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show that afternoon but didn’t appear.
The 78-year-old was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining injuries.
A man, 26, was arrested on suspicion of murdering the former MP and MEP on Friday but has now been released and is no longer part of the investigation.
Widdecombe was a former Conservative MP and had become an immigration and justice spokeswoman for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, continuing to make these media appearances. She had also found fame outside of the world of politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Her last public appearance was on Wednesday morning. (TalkTV)
ITV News first reported that Widdecombe was due to be a guest, again via video call from her home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm on Wednesday.
It’s said that a researcher had spoken to the former Tory MP on the phone earlier in the afternoon to set up the interview.
And after the call, they exchanged messages with Widdecombe and her last message was received at 12:19pm.
However, when the researcher messaged her again at 12:48pm, requesting she join the Zoom link in preparation for the interview, the Reform UK spokeswoman did not reply.
Voice calls and messages to ask if everything was ok then remained unanswered.
Widdecombe was a regular on the show and research team were concerned by her ‘uncharacteristic lack of response’. The show’s team contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday, when she was found by ambulance crews.
Channel 5 has since clarified the efforts to get in touch with Widdecombe ahead of this scheduled call on Wednesday.
Police say her death is ‘not being treated as terrorism’. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Dan Walker shared on X: “Really sad news about Ann Widdecombe. Horrible to think about what she went through. To clarify something we said on the programme tonight… Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show.
“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her. This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.”
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall police said this morning: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.
“Detectives continue to carry out numerous inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
He said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’, adding: “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
“We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.
“This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.
“We have set up a major incident public portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.
“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.”
Featured Image Credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Politics, TV and Film, UK News
Jess Battison
Man, 26, arrested on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe murder released as police issue new update
Police have confirmed that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.
The former MP and MEP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday (9 July) after sustaining serious injuries. A man was arrested on Friday.
Widdecombe was an ex-Tory prisons minister and later became a Brexit Party MEP, then subsequently a Reform UK spokesperson.
The 78-year-old was also wider known outside of politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Devon and Cornwall Police previously said the case of her death is ‘not being treated as terrorism’ and there is ‘no information’ at this time to suggest it was a ‘politically-motivated crime’.
Widdecombe appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Confirming the release of the man from custody, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said this morning: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.
“Detectives continue to carry out numerous enquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
He said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’, adding: “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
“We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.
“This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.
“We have set up a Major Incident Public Portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.
“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.”
Police have urged people not to speculate about her death online. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Following Widdecombe’s suspected murder, Sir Keir Starmer has urged people to come together across political divides.
He said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage to ‘urge everybody to come together at a moment like this’.
In a social media statement Farage said Widdecombe’s death, and subsequent police murder investigation, was a ‘terrible reflection on modern Britain’.
The former Tory MP became a member of his Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP representing South west England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.
She went on to become immigration and justice spokeswoman for Reform UK and appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.
Widdecombe was due to also be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon, but did not appear.
The Reform UK spokesperson had reportedly exchanged messages with a researcher but didn’t respond when they tried to contact her to join a Zoom call from home.
Featured Image Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Jess Battison
Police launch murder investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s sudden death
A murder investigation has been launched into the death of former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
She was found dead in her home in Dartmoor, Devon yesterday (9 July), aged 78, having sustained ‘serious injuries’, a police statement said.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.
“Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be a white male.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation.
Ann Widdecombe was found dead at the age of 78 this week (Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“We have an increased uniformed police presence in the area to both support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns can speak with our officers at the scene.
“We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ann Widdecombe.”
A representative for Widdecombe’s management said in a statement: “We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours. We fully support the police in their investigations and we reiterate the family’s desire not to be contacted at this difficult time.
“We implore anyone who may have relevant information to contact Devon & Cornwall Police.”
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the circumstances around former MP Ann Widdecombe’s death are “extremely distressing”, adding: “My thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones”.
A statement from Cloud9 Management, who represented her for more than a decade, said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.
“Her life and career were driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service. She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK.
A murder investigation has been launched following her death (Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
“Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities.
“As Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show, ‘We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, that’s my philosophy’.
“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”
Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone and she also held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.
The political figure became known for far more than her politics, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.
This came off the back of a decades long political career however, joining Reform UK in 2023. Farage spoke out on X about her death, saying she had played a ‘decisive role’ in getting Brexit ‘over the line’.
He said: “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.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman said Widdecombe was “a distinctive figure in British politics for many years”.
Featured Image Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Best Heroes Awards 2025
