Ann Widdecombe missed TV appearance the day before she was found dead in her home

On Wednesday (8 July), the day before she was found dead, Ann Widdecombe appeared on TalkTV via remote video link.

However, she was also reportedly set to be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show that afternoon but didn’t appear.

The 78-year-old was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining injuries.

A man, 26, was arrested on suspicion of murdering the former MP and MEP on Friday but has now been released and is no longer part of the investigation.

Widdecombe was a former Conservative MP and had become an immigration and justice spokeswoman for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, continuing to make these media appearances. She had also found fame outside of the world of politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Her last public appearance was on Wednesday morning. (TalkTV)

ITV News first reported that Widdecombe was due to be a guest, again via video call from her home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm on Wednesday.

It’s said that a researcher had spoken to the former Tory MP on the phone earlier in the afternoon to set up the interview.

And after the call, they exchanged messages with Widdecombe and her last message was received at 12:19pm.

However, when the researcher messaged her again at 12:48pm, requesting she join the Zoom link in preparation for the interview, the Reform UK spokeswoman did not reply.

Voice calls and messages to ask if everything was ok then remained unanswered.

Widdecombe was a regular on the show and research team were concerned by her ‘uncharacteristic lack of response’. The show’s team contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday, when she was found by ambulance crews.

Channel 5 has since clarified the efforts to get in touch with Widdecombe ahead of this scheduled call on Wednesday.

Police say her death is 'not being treated as terrorism'. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

Dan Walker shared on X: “Really sad news about Ann Widdecombe. Horrible to think about what she went through. To clarify something we said on the programme tonight… Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn't turn up for the show.

“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her. This information has been passed to police as it's part of the investigation.”

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall police said this morning: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.

“Detectives continue to carry out numerous inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

He said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’, adding: “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.

“We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.

“This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.

“We have set up a major incident public portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.

“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.”