Ann Widdecombe, Bonnie Tyler and 5 other famous Brits we’ve lost in recent weeks | UK | News
Ann Widdecombe passed away on July 9 and the murder investigation is still ongoing (Image: Getty)
Britain was shaken by the deaths of many celebrities last month, and many famous faces also lost their lives. These high-profile deaths last month have been met with great sadness and respect, and they will leave legacies that will endure for years to come.
Each has left a mark on British life and culture, whether in sport, politics or art. Below we look at some of the biggest names to have died in recent weeks, including politician Ann Widdecombe, actress Penelope Keith and artist David Hockney.
Ann Widdecombe
The former politician, who died on July 9, was perhaps best known as MP for Maidstone and the Weald between 1997 and 2010.
After leaving the House of Commons, she appeared in a number of reality TV shows, including Strictly Come Dancing the same year and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
The investigation into his death is still ongoingThe 26-year-old young man arrested in connection with the murder was released.
bonnie tyler
The Welsh singer, who died earlier this week, rose to fame in the late 1970s with the song It’s a heartache.
He was most famous for his 1980s power ballads Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero; the latter of which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1984 musical Footloose.
He passed away at the age of 75 following complications following emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal.
Singer Bonnie Tyler was another famous face lost due to complications from surgery (Image: Getty)
Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot’s career has spanned many different news networks, including BBC News, Channel 4 and Sky News. He is also known for presenting the popular BBC quiz show Eggheads between 2003 and 2014.
He passed away at his home on July 11 at the age of 68 due to complications of Stage IV prostate cancer.
He advocated for greater awareness of the disease and encouraged men over 50 to be screened early.
Presenter Dermot Murnaghan passed away last year after being diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer (Image: Getty)
Penelope Keith
With a career spanning 60 years, Penelope Keith has been active on TV, film, radio and stage, as well as presenting.
His most famous roles were in British Sitcoms such as To the Manor Born and The Good Life.
The actor died of cancer at his home in Surrey at the end of last month.
Penelope Keith had an amazing career in television, film and stage (Image: Getty)
David Hockney
David Hockney is perhaps one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and was a pioneer of the pop art movement of the 1960s.
One of his most famous works is Portrait of the Artist (Pool with Two Figures) from 1972, which sold for £67 million in 2018, breaking an auction record for a living artist.
He passed away peacefully at his home in London on June 11, aged 88.
David Hockney was an artist who helped advance the Pop Art movement (Image: Getty)
Ken Bates
Ken Bates was a businessman and football administrator best known for owning Chelsea and later Leeds United. It helped both clubs get out from under their heavy debt burden.
He was also involved in the development of Wembley Stadium and Stamford Bridge.
Bates died surrounded by his family in Monaco on July 11, at the age of 94.
Ken Bates was owner and chairman of both Chelsea and Leeds during his career. (Image: Getty)
Patricia Greene
Greene held the record for the longest-serving actor on a soap opera in any medium, having played the role of Jill Archer on the radio drama The Archers from 1957 to 2026. He also acted in the television and cinema industry.
He was still recording for The Archers when he moved into a care home in his nineties, marking a staggering 69 years in the role.
Patricia Greene is the longest-serving TV actress in any medium (Image: Getty)
