FORMER Conservative politician and novelist Ann Widdacombe dropped into Bookstop in Tavistock last week to sign copies of her autobiography 'Strictly Ann'.

Ann said she was 'on her way home', having been to Saltash and heading for Haytor on Dartmoor where she has lived since she retired from politics in 2010.

She said the book, which is number seven in the Sunday Times bestsellers list, began with her childhood in Singapore, went on to her political career, which spanned 23 years, and the 'Showbiz section' ,which included her stint on 'Strictly Come Dancing' in 2010 when she was partnered with Anton du Beke.

Since 2002 she has made numerous television and radio appearances, including as a TV presenter.

'There was a lot of pressure for me to write my autobiography and because of the contrast between politics and "Strictly" I decided to do it and publish it myself,' said the 65-year-old.

Ann said she could not have predicted how life was going to go, it just turned out that way, but she described her time in the reality show as 'terrific fun with no responsibility'.

She admits that she is always being asked to do reality shows with two requests for 'Celebrity Big Brother' and one for 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of Here' but was put off by the voyeurism and 'eating witchetty grubs'.

Her book reveals a little about her life on Dartmoor which she loves for its 'bleakness, remoteness, uniqueness, views and the peace and quiet'.

She said she could never imagine living anywhere else now.

LEFT:?Ann Widdecombe at Bookstop, where she signed copies of her autobiography, with shop owner Natasha Church