Chilling Ann Widdecombe principle emerges after her home was on TV days earlier than demise
A repeat of Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House featuring Ann Widdecombe aired just days before the former MP was found dead at her home, with no suggestion the programme was connected to her death
Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her house in Devon on July 9(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
Ann Widdecombe’s Devon bungalow was shown on national television just five days before she died. A repeat broadcast of Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House featuring the 78-year-old former minister offered viewers an intimate look inside her home.
The Quest show returned to air on July 2, with TV schedules revealing it was transmitted five days before police confirmed Ms Widdecombe had died at the Haytor residence on July 7. There is no suggestion that the show, or any of the material filmed at the property, was linked to Ms Widdecombe’s death.
However, there is speculation that Ms Widdecombe’s attacker may have seen her home on the TV. Former counter-terrorism detective at Scotland Yard David Videcette said “unscrupulous individuals” do target people after their homes have been on TV.
He said: “This sort of thing is a real problem nowadays. There’re plenty of free tools for unscrupulous individuals to identify where you live from a photo or video, there’s even more when you’re prepared to pay.”
The second series episode, which originally aired in 2022, tracked presenter Angus Ashworth as he toured the £600,000 bungalow and evaluated items Ms Widdecombe wished to auction. Audiences were given access to various sections of the residence including the entrance, garden, conservatory, gymnasium, study, kitchen and dining space.
The show described Ms Widdecombe as a “retired politician” while listing the location of the property on the “idyllic Devonshire coast”.
During the broadcast, she sought to secure a particular price for personal possessions including her parents’ Japanese Satsuma dish, a scarf, a bag and a teddy bear.
The episode featured Ms Widdecombe explaining her choice to reside in the isolated property while cameras documented various rooms of the bungalow.
She said: “I came down here quite deliberately to be as remote as I could, as was sensible. I’ve got what I want, which is peace, quiet, solitude.
“Of course, I’m friendly with some of the neighbours. I’m not a recluse. Part of the retirement plan was to have a clear-out of old things.”
Upon arriving at the bungalow, Mr Ashworth, 41, remarked: “Lovely little house, isn’t it.”
Ms Widdecombe, 78, was discovered dead at the Haytor property on July 9. Police confirmed she died following blunt force trauma to the head, believing Widdecombe was attacked at around 12.30pm on July 8.
Quest TV, which is under the ownership of Warner Bros Discovery, was contacted for comment.
