Carole Malone has hit out at Adam Boulton after the former Sky News presenter described Ann Widdecombe as a ‘spinster’ and ‘old maid’ on live television.
Adam Boulton’s comments were slammed and he later issued an apology (Image: Sky News)
A former Sky News star has been criticised for comments he made about Ann Widdecombe by broadcaster Carole Malone.
The former Conservative politician and Reform UK spokesperson’s death aged 78 was announced on Friday, July 10. It was confirmed she was found dead at her Devon home the day before after sustaining serious injuries.
While her agents released a statement paying tribute, no cause of death has been given, and a police investigation has been ongoing. In the days that have followed her death, headlines have been focused on the investigation across all major news outlets.
However, one presenter has been slammed for his comments, and later issued an apology. Adam Boulton had described Strictly Come Dancing star Ann as a “spinster” and an “old maid”.
He said on Sky News: “She was very much a spinster, by the end I think you’d probably describe her as an old maid. Reportedly, she claimed that she was a virgin.”
After his comments on live TV, Boulton issued an apology, saying: “I was seriously wrong and insensitive in one of the several media appearances I made yesterday in reaction to the death of Ann Widdecombe. I got the timing and tone of my initial word portrait of her wrong.
“Of course I shared, and share, the horror at her murder and the respect for her remarkable and feisty political career. I also know that many people loved her for her subsequent showbiz stardom. Her untimely death is a horrible thing.
“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 went on to call himself a freelance contributor, and said he was “freely” issuing the apology after confessing “I got this badly wrong”. He also apologised to Sky News and Times Radio for the “unwarranted” criticism the outlets received over his “mistake”.
Among the criticism he has received, Carole Malone lashed out, writing on X: “You’re a very clever man. How could you not have known what you were saying as it was coming out of your mouth. Or are you really so lacking in compassion and sensitivity? Your apology is not so much about Ann but more about you saving your various work contracts.”
Malone elsewhere wrote on X, unrelated to Boulton’s apology: “All those cretinous savages gleefully celebrating the brutal murder of Ann Widdecombe – a 78 year old lady who spent her last moments on this earth in abject terror – there’s a special place in Hell for you all. The universe has a way of coming for morons like you!”
Mirror has approached Boulton’s representative for a comment. The latest from the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death has seen the police arrest a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East has said “new information and evidence has come to light” as they are leading the investigation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also issued a statement saying: “The police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. I will be updating the House further this afternoon.”