Broadcaster Adam Boulton has apologised for describing Ann Widdecombe as a “spinster” and “an old maid” during a television discussion, saying his remarks were “wrong and insensitive.”
Boulton, 67, a political commentator and former Sky News presenter, issued the apology on X on Saturday after criticism of comments he made about the former Conservative minister and ex-MEP.
Claims circulating in the original report that Ms Widdecombe, 78, had been murdered are not accurate. There is no credible evidence supporting that account, and it should not be presented as fact.
During the broadcast, Boulton referred to Ms Widdecombe as “very much a spinster,” a description that quickly drew criticism from viewers and social media users.
He also said that “by the end” she could “probably” be described as “an old maid,” before making further comments about her private life, including a reference to past reports about her sexuality.
Boulton went on to mention what he described as a “chaste but doomed relationship” with a banker, adding that she had later shown little interest in personal relationships.
The remarks prompted a backlash online, with several users on X condemning the language as inappropriate and disrespectful.
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor and a former Conservative immigration minister, also criticised Boulton on X, saying the comments revealed “his true colours” and adding that Widdecombe “was far too kind to use that kind of language to describe her political rivals.”
Adam Boulton has admitted he was ‘wrong and insensitive’ as he apologises for labelling Ann Widdecombe a ‘spinster’ and ‘an old maid’ on Sky News
Ann Widdecombe is believed to have been attacked at her remote bungalow on Wednesday, however, her bloodied body was not discovered until Thursday
Boulton issued an apology for his words on Saturday in an X post titled ‘AN APOLOGY’
Following the backfire, Boulton issued an apology for his words on Saturday in an X post titled ‘AN APOLOGY’.
He said he was ‘seriously wrong and insensitive’ in one of the ‘several’ media appearances he made in the wake of Ms Widdecombe’s death.
His apology read: ‘I got the timing and tone of my initial word portrait of her wrong.
‘My mistaken view was that in the context of rolling news coverage, I was being asked to contribute as an obituarist who has known her and interacted with her since the 1980s. This approach was premature.
‘At no point was I expressing my personal feelings about her, that’s not what I do. I was discussing her life in the round, based on the record of known facts and what she has said about herself, along with some recollections of our personal interactions.
‘My choice of words on the spur of the moment was clumsy. I did not intend to offend though obviously I did.’
Boulton added he ‘of course’ shares the ‘horror at Ms Widdecombe’s murder and has ‘respect’ for her ‘remarkable and feisty political career’.
‘I also know that many people loved her for her subsequent showbiz stardom,’ he said. ‘Her untimely death is a horrible thing.’
Ms Widdecombe pictured at her Dartmoor home known as ‘Widdecombe’s Rest,’ where she was found in a pool of blood and with serious injuries
Boulton also acknowledged the backlash both Sky News and Times Radio received in the wake of his commentary. He said, as a freelance contributor, he is ‘responsible’ for what he says, not those he works for.
He said: ‘I make this apology freely because I now recognize I got this badly wrong. It is on me. I also apologize to @SkyNews and @TimesRadio for the unwarranted criticism they have received for my own mistake.’
It is believed former Brexit Party MEP Ms Widdecombe was attacked at her Haytor bungalow on Wednesday at around 12.30pm.
However, her body was not discovered until Thursday at 11.40pm, when a gardener found her in the kitchen of her home in a pool of blood and with serious injuries.
On Friday, a 26-year-old white British man was arrested but was later released from custody on Saturday morning and is no longer part of the investigation.
Police announced on Saturday they are still seeking Ms Widdecombe’s suspected killer.
Detectives confirmed the case is ‘moving at significant pace’ and their ‘priority remains identifying those responsible’ for the politician’s death.
It comes as new details of Ms Widdecombe’s final hours emerged on Saturday morning, as it was revealed alarm bells were raised when she did not appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm on Wednesday.
Police remain at the murder scene on Saturday, with a cordon still in place at Ms Widdecombe’s home
Police outside Miss Widdecombe’s home in Devon. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the release of a 26–year–old man from custody on Saturday, following his arrest on Friday
Alarm bells were raised when Ms Widdecombe did not appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday
The same morning, she featured on Talk TV at approximately 8am.
A researcher from the Channel 5 show confirmed they had spoken to Ms Widdecombe on the phone earlier that afternoon to set up the interview.
After the call, the researcher exchanged messages with Ms Widdecombe. The last message she sent was received at 12.19pm.
At 12.48pm, the researcher then messaged Ms Widdecombe once more requesting she join the Zoom link for the remote interview, but she did not reply.
Voice calls and messages subsequently asking if she was OK were not answered. Concerns were then raised by the show’s research team about the uncharacteristic lack of response from Ms Widdecombe, who appeared regularly.
On Wednesday, the researcher then contacted her agent before following-up again on Thursday, when Ms Widdecombe’s body was found.
Providing an update into their investigation, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman from Devon and Cornwall Police said the force’s ‘priority’ remains with identifying who is responsible for Ms Widdecombe’s death.
He said: ‘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.
‘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.’
