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Former MP and Strictly contestant Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home, with her body left undiscovered for 24 hours.

Investigators say the 78-year-old was found in a pool of her own blood inside the kitchen of her remote Dartmoor bungalow.

The ex-Tory minister was last seen during an interview for Talk TV at around 8am on Wednesday. But she then failed to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show just a few hours later at 1pm.

A TV researcher sent her a message at 12.48pm requesting she join a Zoom call, but there was no reply, and her phone went unanswered.

A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, but he has since been released from custody, Devon and Cornwall Police have said.

Here is everything we know so far.

Who was Ann Widdecombe?

Miss Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.

In her post-Commons career, she appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, partnered with Anton du Beke, and reached the semi-finals thanks to the public vote.

She became a member of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party from 2019 and served as an MEP representing South West England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.

Miss Widdecombe became immigration and justice spokeswoman for Mr Farage’s Reform UK and remained active in the media – she appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.

How did Ann Widdecombe die?

The official cause of death has not yet been released.

Officers said they were called to the 78-year-old’s home in Haytor at around 11.40am on Thursday by the ambulance service.

Miss Widdecombe was found dead inside at her home, having sustained ‘serious injuries’.

She is believed to have been attacked at around 12.30pm Wednesday, but the alarm was not raised until 11.40am the next day.

The police said her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Where did Ann Widdecombe live?

Miss Widdecombe lived in a remote bungalow in Haytor, on Dartmoor.

A cordon can still be seen around the property as police continue their investigation.

Did Ann Widdecombe have children?

Miss Widdecombe did not have any children, saying sex and TV were the two things in life she could ‘do without’.

She was openly celibate and said she did not agree with sex before marriage.

She told The Times: ‘I think that the brute truth is that I’ve enjoyed being alone.

‘I love my own company. I’m the best company I know – I mean, I can make myself laugh uproariously.’

What do we know about the suspect?

Police arrested a 26-year-old man, but he has since been released from custody.

Investigators say their priority remains in finding ‘those responsbile’ for her death.

They say the suspect is a white male.

They do not believe the incident is terror-related.

What has the police said about the investigation?

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman provided an update on the force’s investigation today and said: ‘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.’