Strictly Ann
The Autobiography
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Strictly Ann
Narrated by:
Jilly Bond
Buy Now for £18.89
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Narrated by:
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Jilly Bond
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By:
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Ann Widdecombe
From her early family life in Singapore and her convent school days to her student ambitions at Birmingham and Oxford, and her long-serving years as an MP, this is the life story of one of our most outspoken and celebrated politicians. Offering unique insight into her time as a Minister in three Departments and the Shadow Cabinet in the 1990s, Ann also explains the roots of her conversion to Catholicism in 1993 and her deeply held views on abortion and gay marriage.
A rare anti-hunting Tory, who campaigned for prison education and once put on a miner's overalls to go down a coal mine, Ann Widdecombe has never been afraid of controversy. Her memoirs reveal a singular personality who lives life to the full. From feisty and witty appearances on Have I Got News For You to her unforgettable and star-turning performances on Strictly Come Dancing, Ann has earned her place in the public's affections and has been heralded as a 'national living treasure' by the Guardian.
Also containing Ann's trenchant views on the Coalition, MPs' expenses and the state of the nation, this is a provocative and entertaining read. Frank, fearless and engaging, Ann's autobiography will delight her admirers and win her yet more fans.
Read by Jilly Bond©2013 Ann Widdecombe
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Critic reviews
She gives a unique insight into the workings of government from her time as a minister in three departments and as a member of the Shadow cabinet in the 1990s
You wouldn't expect Ann Widdecombe to pull her punches - but there's NEVER been a political autobiography quite like this
The book captures the intensity of emotions and the relentlessness of intrigue at Westminster for a minister determined to hold on to her integrity under what feels to her like pressure from all sides. It is a vivid portrayal of a world she clearly loves (Rachel Sylvester)
It is briskly and competently written ... if you are a Widdy fan, as she seems to believe most people are, you'll enjoy this book (Lynn Barber)
Ann Widdecombe has sailed through life with the same brisk, no-nonsense style that she brings to this highly readable memoir (Lloyd Evans)
The book is breezily written, as befits the author of four novels, and characteristically honest (Stephen Moss)
a feisty public figure in an increasingly conformist world, a woman who doesn't give a toss what you think about her looks and isn't prepared to compromise her views for anyone (Ian Thomson)
From Singapore to Dartmoor and Parliament to the pantomime stage, Ann takes readers on a gloriously entertaining journey through her life
Publishers know that the sales of political memoirs depend entirely on the author's popularity. This explains why Alan Johnson's autobiography has risen skywards while poor David Blunkett's performed a bellyflop. Widdecombe's ripping tale will follow the flightpath of the former (Lloyd Evans)
If feminism is about robust individualism and uncompromising, occasionally bolshie personality - and your guess is as good as mine - well, she's up there with Mary Beard ... She's good-humoured about the controversies but gets her own back (Melanie McDonagh)
Ann Widdecombe is big. It's politics that got small (Liz Jones)
She has a compelling story to tell, particularly about political dramas at the heart of Westminster and, with the instinctive gift for narrative that has made her a successful novelist, she relates it in a highly readable style (Leo McKinstry)
Hugely entertaining autobiography ... the principal joy of this book, though, is that, reading it, you could just as easily be sitting chatting to Ann (Peter Stanford)
But I have great pleasure in saying that this book is a cut above the usual political autobiography and I would have been proud to publish it (Iain Dale)
The former minister, author and Express columnist's life story is clearly a gripping read
This is a charming portrait of growing up, an insightful portrait of an age, and a candid account of the mess of Parliament from a survivor of the electoral carnage of 1997 (Pat Ashworth)
She had many of Thatcher's qualities, with more of the wit (John Rentoul)
Real
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An incredible life…
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definitely buying her other book.
spot on
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Widdecombe begins with the foundations: a childhood spent moving between postings with her father’s Admiralty work, convent schooling, and university studies at Birmingham and Oxford—experiences that instilled both discipline and independence. She traces her path to parliament, ministerial office across three departments, and the Shadow Cabinet, offering readers an unusually unsparing look at the mechanics of government and the compromises demanded of public life. What stands out is her account of remaining true to principle when others shifted ground—whether opposing hunting, advocating prison education, or navigating the fierce internal politics of the Conservative Party in the 1990s.
Central to the book is her 1993 conversion to Roman Catholicism, explained not as a sudden revelation but as the logical outcome of long reflection and deepening conviction—one that led her to part ways with the Anglican Church over the ordination of women priests. Her views on ethics, life, and society are rooted in that faith; while many will disagree with her positions, she sets them out with clarity and invites readers to understand where they come from, rather than seeking to persuade through rhetoric alone.
The final chapters move beyond Westminster to the unlikely second act that made her a household name beyond politics: her television career, most famously Strictly Come Dancing, where she turned limited ability into popular affection through sheer spirit and good humour. These sections reveal a woman comfortable in her own skin, unafraid to laugh at herself, and refreshingly indifferent to the judgement of critics.
The book is not without limits. Readers looking for intimate personal revelation or detailed accounts of private relationships will find much left unsaid—Widdecombe reserves her deepest reflections for matters of belief and public duty. And her firm opinions often remain just that; those seeking nuanced debate on the issues she addresses will find themselves having to push back against her conclusions.
But that is exactly what makes Strictly Ann valuable. It presents a complete, consistent worldview—one that many will challenge, but few can deny was lived with integrity. It is the record of a woman who spoke as she found, and who did not change her tune simply because the times had changed around her. Whether you admired her or disagreed with her, there is no question that this is an honest account of a life lived strictly on her own terms.
A remarkable woman
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