“SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 79…” — ANN WIDDECOMBE’S STRICTLY MEMORIES HIT DIFFERENT NOW

She stepped onto the Strictly ballroom floor with Anton Du Beke and gave viewers something they never expected — laughter, determination and unforgettable moments that are still remembered today.

On October 4, Ann Widdecombe would have celebrated her 79th birthday.

Instead, this year brought a quieter kind of remembrance.

The former politician and television personality died in July 2026 at the age of 78, leaving behind decades of memories from her remarkable public life.

And for many viewers, some of the most treasured memories came not from Parliament — but from the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.

 THE WOMAN WHO DARED TO DANCE

When Ann joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, she was hardly the contestant anyone expected to become a ballroom sensation.

But that was never really the point.

Paired with professional dancer Anton Du Beke, Ann approached the competition with determination and a willingness to laugh at herself.

Her routines became memorable precisely because she never pretended to be something she wasn’t.

She stepped outside her comfort zone, performed in front of millions and embraced the lighter side of television.

For audiences who knew her primarily as a politician, it was a chance to see a very different Ann.

ANN AND ANTON

Her partnership with Anton became one of the most recognisable parts of her Strictly story.

The pair brought plenty of humour to the ballroom, while Anton helped guide Ann through the pressures of learning routines and performing live.

Their time together eventually became more than just a television partnership.

Ann’s appearances helped show the warmth, humour and self-deprecating side of a woman who had spent much of her career in a world of serious political debate.

Years later, those performances remain among the moments many Strictly fans associate most strongly with her.

 MORE THAN A STRICTLY CONTESTANT

Ann’s life was far bigger than her time on television.

She served as a Conservative MP for more than two decades and later became an MEP, while continuing to appear regularly on television and write.

Her political career made her a familiar and sometimes controversial figure in British public life.

But Strictly Come Dancing introduced her to another audience.

For a generation of viewers, she became not simply the politician with strong opinions — but the woman who was willing to walk onto a ballroom floor and give it a try.

REMEMBERING ANN

Ann was found dead at her home in Devon in July.

A man, Joshua Kerry, was later charged with her murder, and the criminal proceedings remain a matter for the courts. Her inquest was adjourned pending the conclusion of those proceedings.

But when fans remember Ann, many will choose to remember more than the circumstances surrounding her final days.

They will remember her unmistakable voice.

Her humour.

Her determination.

And that unforgettable moment when she stepped onto the Strictly floor with Anton Du Beke.

“SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 79…”

On October 4, Ann should have been celebrating another birthday.

Instead, viewers looked back at the moments she left behind.

The dances may be from 2010, but the memories remain.

And sometimes, when someone is gone, the smallest moments become the ones people hold onto most tightly.

For Ann Widdecombe, those moments continue to live on — one dance, one laugh and one unforgettable Strictly memory at a time. 🕊️🤍