Political commentator Adam Boulton has issued an apology for "seriously wrong and insensitive" remarks he made about Ann Widdecombe amid a murder probe into her death. Mr Boulton initially declined to apologise after he angered viewers as he described the former Conservative minister, who was discovered dead with serious injuries at her Dartmoor residence on Thursday morning, as a "spinster" and "old maid" on live television.

The former Sky News presenter, who characterised himself as a "reporter who knew her for decades", was branded "truly vile" for the remarks. In a reversal over his comments, he stated on Saturday: "I got the timing and tone of my initial word portrait of her wrong. 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."

Speaking on live television following news of the murder probe, he said of Ms Widdecombe: "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."

Now, he has issued an apology to X. In full, his statement read: "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.

"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. This approach was premature."

He went on: "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."

Adam continued: "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."

Detectives believe the former Tory minister was attacked 24 hours after she was found dead. It emerged earlier that she had failed to appear for a scheduled video interview with Channel 5 on Wednesday afternoon and could not be contacted, despite numerous attempts to reach her.