BBC Breakfast paid a very brief tribute to the former Daily Express columnist.
BBC Breakfast aired a segment about Ann Widdecombe (Image: BBC)
BBC Breakfast just made a huge mistake with its tribute to the late MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe. The former politician, Strictly Come Dancing star and Daily Express columnist died at the age of 78 and it was down to Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt to break the news to viewers just after 7am this morning (July 10).
Despite channels like GB News and TalkTV inviting Ann’s former colleagues, including Richard Tice, on air to pay tribute, the BBC decided not to even lead on the news of her death during its hourly bulletin. Instead, it was the news that the Bayeux Tapestry had returned to Britain for the first time in almost 1000 years that led the segment.
The tapestry arrived in London to be exhibited at the British Museum – news that was announced a while back. Meanwhile, the fresh blow of Widdecombe’s death was the follow up news item, with Charlie Stayt simply saying: “Former Conservative MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe has died at the age of 78.”
Naga Munchetty immediately moved onto the next item – restrictions on the sale of vapes – and then the backing of Andy Burnham to be next prime minister.
After another lengthy segment about the tapestry, the programme finally handed over to Helen Catt, political correspondent, for more of a tribute – but even that was lacklustre.
Ann died at the age of 78 (Image: Getty)
She briefly went through a list of the politician’s highlights, but also her controversies, before concluding: “Uncompromising, unflinching, Ann Widdecombe was a conviction politician with a knack for a colourful performance.”
Naga and Charlie didn’t say anything afterwards, simply brushed the whole thing under the rug and moved swiftly on.
Compare this to GB News, who broke out the breaking banner across the screen to announce the sad news. They also invited former Conservative minister Nadine Dorries onto the programme to talk about Ann, along with having Andrew Pierce comment on the tragic news of her death.
Love her or hate her, she was a huge influence on British politics and our place in Brexit. It’s doing her a disservice to comment so briefly on her passing.
And it seems a shoddy use of our licence fee when such a large news item can be passed over for news about a museum exhibit and potentially selling vapes in white boxes.