Tour of Ann Widdecombe’s Devon house aired on TV days before she was found dead
A week before Ann Widdecombe was found murdered in her home, a video tour of her remote Devon home was broadcast on television.
The former Conservative prisons minister and Reform party spokesman is understood to have first invited cameras to his bungalow in Haytor, Dartmoor, in 2022.
However, according to listings, the episode of Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House was rebroadcast on Quest on Thursday, July 2 at 6pm.
In the show, Widdecombe gives homeowner Angus Ashworth a guided tour of the house he bought for an estimated £600,000 in 2008, including its library and some antiques.
The bungalow, which he calls “Widdecombe’s Retreat”, is located on a quiet crossroads at the top of the idyllic village with views across the Teign estuary for miles.
Surrounded by manicured lawns, the house has an outdoor swimming pool with a slide at the back of the house, which he reportedly built with the money he earned. Definitely Come Dance With Anton du Beke in 2010.
The fiery politician was found dead with serious injuries at the remote property a week after the episode aired again.
Counter Terrorism Police announced on Monday they would lead the investigation into Widdecombe’s murder following “the emergence of new information and evidence”.
Detectives said they re-arrested a 28-year-old suspect on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.
He was first arrested on suspicion of murder in Rotherham, Yorkshire, at the weekend.
According to reports, he is suspected of having traveled more than 300 miles the previous day armed with a wooden pole. CCTV footage he saw Telegram The man appears to have left the address at around 7am on Wednesday.
Laurence Taylor, Chief Executive of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues at Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence which means Counter Terrorism Police are leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of investigation to determine the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is to move this investigation forward quickly with all the means at our disposal. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.”
“We thank local communities, the public and the media for their ongoing support and patience and ask that they continue to support us through the next phase of the investigation.”
Devon and Cornwall Police previously claimed there was “nothing to suggest” Widdecombe’s murder was terrorism-related or politically motivated.
Deputy Police Chief Matt Longman said Sunday that police were not looking for any additional suspects.
The suspect was arrested shortly after 9pm on Saturday on suspicion of Widdecombe’s murder. Police believe he was attacked around 12.30pm on Wednesday.
This story is being updated
