Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood shared a heartfelt post to social media honouring former politician and contestant Ann Widecombe following her death
Craig Revel Horwood posts emotional tribute to Ann Widdecombe amid murder investigation(Image: PA)
Craig Revel Horwood has paid an emotional tribute to Ann Widdecombe after it emerged that she had been murdered. A manhunt has now been resumed for the former politician’s murder.
Taking to Instagram, Craig, 61, posted a picture of himself in drag with Anne in costume, it read: “After Anne’s time on Strictly Come Dancing, I had the privilege of working with her for several years on theatre tours and a variety of other projects. During that time, I came to know a woman who bore little resemblance to many of the assumptions I had once made about her.”Ann, 78, appeared on Strictly in 2010 and was partnered with Anton du Beke who has also been left devastated by her death, which he called the “saddest of news”
In his post, Craig also referenced how their clash in political views didn’t effect their friendship. He added: “Despite the seemingly irreconcilable differences in our political views, I grew to admire and care for her enormously. Anne was warm, wickedly funny, deeply intelligent, and a genuinely joyous presence to be around. “Beneath the formidable public persona was a kind and generous spirit, and someone I am proud to have called a friend. What happened to her is unimaginably cruel. No one deserves such a horrific end. Rest in peace, darling Anne. You will be greatly missed.
Anne was found dead at her bungalow in Haytor, a village on Dartmoor, Devon on Thursday morning. The former Conservative MP, who later became a Brexit Party MEP and subsequently a Reform UK spokesperson, lived in the property alone. She was reportedly discovered by a carer covered in blood after sustaining at least one serious head wound.
A 26-year-old white British man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder but later released. Devon and Cornwall police said the person had left custody and is no longer part of their investigation.
The police are now trying to piece together her movements after she failed to attend a TV appearance last week but apparently sent a message about another appearance.
Craig’s tribute comes after a number of stars paid tribute.
Piers Morgan said: “What a horrendous way for such a wonderful character’s life to end. Ann was an absolute tour de force – opinionated, combative, fearless, principled, and highly intelligent.
“She loved a good argument but was great fun too. I didn’t agree with some of her views or politics, but she never demanded that I did. She believed free speech was the cornerstone of democracy.
“I interviewed her for my Life Stories biographical show, in which was she both searingly honest and wonderfully entertaining about her amazing life, we appeared together on Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire during which she regularly berated me to the audience’s delight, and we locked horns many times on Good Morning Britain and Uncensored.
“We also texted each other from time to time, most recently when we both had nasty falls and ended up in hospital around the same time. She sustained her injury rescuing a mouse from her cat. That was typical Ann… a fiery feisty and often hilariously funny battle-axe (she’d take description as a compliment) on air, a heart of gold off air.”
He ended his post saying: “It’s just awful to think of how harrowing her last moments must have been. My deepest condolences to all Ann’s family. RIP.”
Strictly judge Anton Due Beke, who was partnered with Ann during her stint on the BBC show said: “I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing.
“She became a real friend. She was fun, she was upbeat, she was positive, she was supportive, she was game – she wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing and we had an incredible time together.
“On behalf of myself and the whole @bbcstrictly family, we are devastated by the news and our thoughts go out to her nearest and dearest and her whole family. We will all remember her fondly and miss her. Anton x.”
Meanwhile Ashley James who knew Ann from Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 added: “Ann Widdecombe and I couldn’t have been more different politically. We clashed a lot in the Celebrity Big Brother house, and there are many of her views I fundamentally disagreed with, particularly on LGBTQ+ rights.
“‘I have such fond memories of doing her hair and makeup in the house. She’d never have admitted it, but I think, somewhere deep deep deep down, she enjoyed being fussed over. Those moments reminded me that people are often more complicated than the opinions they’re known for. We kept in touch for a while after the house.
“I still laugh remembering meeting her for dinner and asking if she could please take off her Brexit Party rosette before we sat down. We eventually lost touch as our lives and our beliefs moved further apart.
“While I know many of Ann’s beliefs caused real harm, the lesson she gave me to stop trying to please everyone and care less about what others thought has stayed with me ever since.’
She added: “I am absolutely devastated. Sending love to Ann’s family and loved ones. I await the news to develop before I give comment on thoughts on femicide or politically motivated deaths and what that means for democracy.”
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