Anton Du Beke revealed his ‘devastation’ over Strictly dance partner Ann Widdecombe’s death on Friday as police arrest suspect over the star’s ‘murder’.

A murder probe was launched on Friday after the news of her death. A white British male arrested by police was released on Saturday morning. He is no longer part of the investigation.

Police found the former Conservative prisons minister with ‘serious injuries’ after an ambulance crew called them to her house in Haytor, Dartmoor at 11.40am on Thursday.

Taking to Instagram prior to the news of the murder probe, Anton, 59, said: ‘Hi my loves. Well the saddest of news I’ve heard today and that’s the passing of the lovely Ann Widdecombe.

‘I have to tell you, I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing. She became a real friend. She was fun. She was upbeat. She was positive. She was supportive. She was game.

‘She wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing, and we had an incredible time together. And we stayed firm friends.

‘My thoughts go out to all of her nearest and dearest, and all her family. This is a sad day, and I’m devastated by the news of Ann’s passing. But I shall remember her fondly and miss her.’

Anton and Ann famously made it onto week ten of Strictly back in 2010 and remained in touch.

The former Conservative Party minister’s death was first announced by her agent on Friday morning and there had been no suggestion of anything other than natural causes.

On Friday afternoon Devon and Cornwall Police said officers had begun a murder inquiry into Ann’s death and were hunting a ‘white male’ who they ‘believe is responsible’.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told a press conference that a 26-year-old white British man has been arrested at an address in Newton Abbot.

Ann’s death aged 78 was first announced by her management team on Friday morning and there had been no suggestion of anything other than natural causes.

It is understood she was found covered in blood after suffering a serious head wound.

Mr Longman said there was ‘no information’ at this time to suggest the murder of was a ‘politically motivated crime’ and it is not being treated as terror-related.

He told reporters: ‘A 26-year-old man was arrested in Newton Abbot this afternoon on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe. The suspect, who is a white British national, remains in police custody while inquiries continue.

‘While we work closely with our partners and consulted counter-terrorism policing as part of our initial inquiries, the incident is not being treated as terrorism.’

Forensic officers are in the process of examining Miss Widdecombe’s property, which is surrounded by a cordon.

Mr Longman said the inquiry is ‘in its early stages’ but ‘moving at significant pace’.

He said: ‘We are deploying all 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.’

‘I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. That’s not only potentially harmful to our investigation, but also deeply distressing to the family and friends of Ms Widdecombe.’

Sir Keir Starmer described the announcement of a murder investigation as ‘really shocking news’ and praised the former MP as a ‘distinguished politician’. He refused to comment when asked if he thought the murder could be politically motivated.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances around Ms Widdecombe’s death are ‘extremely distressing’, adding: ‘My thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones.’

The redoubtable politician was a permanent fixture in British public life thanks to her long political career as a no-nonsense, tough-talking figure on the Right.

Her agents, Cloud 9 Management, said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe, DSG.

‘We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends.’

Following the news of Ann’s death, stars took to social media to remember the former Conservative MP as tributes flooded in.

Piers Morgan described Ann as a ‘charismatic, combative gem’ as he paid tribute on X.

He wrote: ‘RIP Ann Widdecombe, 78. A wonderfully no-nonsense, straight-talking, highly-opinionated British battle-axe. Ann was always a very feisty, combative interviewee, but always great fun too. Amid so many dreary politicians, she was a charismatic, combative gem.’

After learning the news of her murder, he penned: ‘I’m so shocked and saddened by the appalling murder of Ann Widdecombe. What a horrendous way for such a wonderful character’s life to end.

‘Ann was an absolute tour de force – opinionated, combative, fearless, principled, and highly intelligent. She loved a good argument but was great fun too.

‘I didn’t agree with some of her views or politics, but she never demanded that I did. She believed free speech was the cornerstone of democracy.

‘I interviewed her for my Life Stories biographical show, in which was she both searingly honest and wonderfully entertaining about her amazing life, we appeared together on Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire during which she regularly berated me to the audience’s delight, and we locked horns many times on Good Morning Britain and Uncensored.

‘We also texted each other from time to time, most recently when we both had nasty falls and ended up in hospital around the same time. She sustained her injury rescuing a mouse from her cat. That was typical Ann… a fiery feisty and often hilariously funny battle-axe (she’d take description as a compliment) on air, a heart of gold off air.

‘It’s just awful to think of how harrowing her last moments must have been. My deepest condolences to all Ann’s family. RIP.’

Martin Frizell penned: ‘Agree or disagree with her politics, Ann Widdecombe had a sense of fun that more politicians could do with.

‘I was the Editor of GMTV when we created Anne’s transition from dark brooding battle axe to the famous blonde crop courtesy of hairdresser Armand Beasley and our great Lorraine team.’

The former This Morning producer added: ‘Celebrity Fit Club followed with Strictly and Big Brother showing off her one chance at life motto. Shocking to learn of her alleged murder, condolences to Ann’s family and friends.’

Jeremy Vine shared photos from his time with Ann on his Channel 5 show and wrote: ‘Today, we woke up to the sad news that Ann Widdecombe has passed away aged 78.

‘She was a friend of the programme, a regular panellist and a formidable politician who was never, ever afraid to express her views, but also had a great sense of humour and was always up for a laugh. Farewell to an icon’.

He later elaborated on Instagram: ‘I’m in my Channel 5, ITN office here, we do the show every day. She’s been so much a part of my life on Radio 2, Channel 5.

‘I honestly think she’s just one of the most extraordinary politicians of the age. She had that cruel nickname in the 80s, Doris Karlov.

‘I said I thought it was terrible, and she said I never minded that. I used to pick up the phone and say, Karlov here.

‘Where do we even start with Anne? Just the energy of that woman, how principled she was.

‘Every day we had her on Channel 5, within about 15 minutes, a viewer would say, “Anne, you should be Prime Minister,” and she would go, “oh no, no, no”.

‘And I always said because she was now Reform and up until a few weeks ago Reform were doing really well, they looked like they were going to just coast it, you know, and I just said, “Anne, come on, you’ve got another cabinet job in you,” but she’d always say no.

‘She respected conventional politics and the idea of, you know, you have parties and votes and elections and that’s how things work. But she was also extremely unconventional and unusual.

‘You’ve just got to think of her on Strictly doing that, but that amazing thing with Anton Du Beke, just how funny she was.

‘She was in pantomimes. She actually went on stage in panto. And she was kind.

‘I know that she had a very austere on-screen manner, and if you disagree with her you know, but in the end, the kindness individually was such a beautiful thing to see.

‘What a woman. I want to say rest in peace, Ann. You’re not a suit and tie politician, Ann.

‘You’re somebody who existed so much in three dimensions, and you were true.

‘You were true to yourself, and you were kind, and we’re going to miss you so much.

‘Ann Widdecombe, who I only heard 67 minutes ago, has died. I’m devastated to hear it.’

Amanda Barrie, who starred with Ann on Celebrity Big Brother, said they were ‘complete opposites’ but she ‘adored her’ as she appeared on Good Morning Britain to pay tribute.

The former MP was known for her controversial stances on moral issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage and had a zero-tolerance approach to drugs.

Amanda said: ‘We could not have been more opposed on gay rights, on politics, on Brexit and on everything.

‘We really were miles apart and yet we actually bonded. I found her to be that big bulldog frontage, inside there was a really kind person. She was really very kind to me.

‘I adored her, which sounds ridiculous because we were complete opposites I was truly fond of her.

‘She thought she could control Big Brother. They used to leave the light on at night. She used to get out of bed and like a little miniature battleship and put the light out.

‘I said “Ann, they will put it on in a minute. It’s Big Brother. They are in charge.” She would say: “No they’re not.” She would keep doing it.

‘I can’t think of anybody who would be more cross that they are not here than Ann. She would be really cross. That little head and all her knowledge. There was a lot of goodness in Ann and I stand by that.’

An emotional Amanda added she had been meaning to ring her up and urged viewers to not hesitate in checking in with their loved ones.

Ann became a firm household name after her memorable Strictly performances and Celebrity Big Brother stint.

On Strictly, she quickly became a fan favourite for her entertaining and theatrical routines, lasting until the tenth week of the competition.

The show thrust her into the spotlight as a pop culture icon as she became known for her comedic and stiff routines.

Up until her death, she remained a prominent public commentator – writing regular opinion columns.

Meanwhile on Celebrity Big Brother iconic moments included her stoic reaction while R&B singer Ginuwine performed his steamy hit Pony and when she attempted to tame her hair with a hair straightener, leaving viewers highly amused by her confusion.

Ann appeared on a talk show as recently as Wednesday, where she doubled down on her support for Reform leader Mr Farage ahead of the Clacton by-election.

Her private life was a famously quiet affair, though it is known that she never married nor had any children.

Ann returned to the Strictly ballroom in December 2018 for the show’s festive special, performing an American Smooth to ‘Sisters’ from White Christmas.

So successful was her Strictly venture that in December 2010, seven MPs supported a parliamentary motion ‘saluting’ her and Anton for ‘their achievement in putting a smile on the nation’s faces’.

Among the signatories were the late Sir David Amess and Dr Therese Coffey, who later served as deputy prime minister under Liz Truss.

The Reform campaigner also dabbled in stage acting.

She made her debut at the Orchard Theatre in the Christmas pantomime Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, alongside Strictly Come Dancing Judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Ann also stepped in at short notice to play the Evil Queen in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in December 2016 – marking her first appearance as a pantomime ‘baddie’, a role she said she had always hoped for.