Ann Widdecombe made a heartfelt admission in what has now become her final column for Best Magazine. The 78-year-old was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the politician was the victim of a "targeted attack".
A 28-year-old detained on suspicion of murdering the former Daily Express columnist has been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Following her retirement from the Commons after 23 years at the 2010 general election, the Reform spokesperson showed fans a very different side of herself through the showbiz world.
That same year, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing alongside Anton Du Beke before making her pantomime debut in 2011.
Ann's first stint on the panto stage saw her star as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford alongside Craig Revel Horwood. She returned to the show in 2018, following her stint on Celebrity Big Brother.
In her final column for Best Magazine before her death, Ann shared the heartfelt reason why she enjoyed pantomime so much.
"Whenever people ask me what I most enjoyed about doing pantomime I reply that for four or five weeks all I heard was the sound of children laughing," she wrote.
"Kids laugh at anything and it is one of the best sounds in the world.
"When I lived near Fulham football ground, I grumbled mightily at the traffic but out in the garden I used to grin as we would hear the build-up to a goal and then either a roar of delight or a huge groan. Football is fine as long as I don't have to watch," she added.
Ann previously joked that she got a taste of panto through her stint on Strictly Come Dancing. Speaking to us, she said: "I thought it would go one of two ways, either I’d get voted out the first week because I’m terrible or I would be kept in for a laugh. We are the pantomime act but we give good panto, I hope."
The former politician went on to say she "never expected" the public to be so warm towards her.
"They actually seem to like us. Of course they want to see what Anton and I can dream up next but it’s not cruel, it’s affectionate," she added.
"Mind you people come up and ask for my autograph and then look over my shoulder and see Anton and completely forget about me.”
Anton is among the many people who have paid tribute to Ann following her death. In an emotional video shared on Instagram, he told fans he had "the most brilliant time" with her on Strictly.
"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," he added.
"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."
