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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Adam Boulton summarises Ann Widdecombe as ‘a spinster, an old maid and a virgin’

112 replies

PeachOctopus · 11/07/2026 13:26

Lots of comments about this news report from Andrew Boulton regarding Anne Widdicombe -he called her a “spinster,” an “old maid” and a “virgin” while speculating about her private life.
I couldn’t believe that as a mainstream broadcaster on Sky he chose language like this to remember her life, regardless of her politics.

Anne Widdicombe- Sky news Andrew Boulton’s misogyny

Nicholas Lissack (@NicholasLissack) on X

Disgraceful scenes on Sky News as a smirking Adam Boulton rants about Ann Widdecombe as a “spinster,” an “old maid” and a “virgin” while speculating about her private life. She was murdered this morning, yet he can’t help but already spew misogynistic...

https://x.com/NicholasLissack/status/2075610331347386840/video/1?s=46

OP posts:
BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 11/07/2026 14:07

threescoops · 11/07/2026 14:00

The fact there isn’t one tells us all we need to know about the contempt society reserves for old single women. And that a fat, balding, adulterous old chauvinist feels it’s ok to say that out loud only underlines it

Absolutely - And it certainly says more about the kind of person he is, than the kind of person she was!

He probably thought he was being clever. Or righteous. Or something.

I wonder if he would like to be remembered for this, when he dies? Because that's all that people will remember now, that he was an odious man who spoke ill of the dead.

Not a good look at all.

TirednessOnToast · 11/07/2026 14:05

ItWasGreatWhenItAllBegan · 11/07/2026 13:46

He’s issued a barely satisfactory explanation/apology but his inability to see yesterday that his comments were inappropriate reveals his character.

x.com/adamboultontabb/status/2075893192872927456?s=46&t=omuKeAgAjscgni2jfxrNng

Absolutely. He's just doubled down like the bullying misogynist he is. Does anyone know if there is a 'joint complaint' going, or are individual complaints best?

threescoops · 11/07/2026 14:00

Lumpycat · 11/07/2026 13:52

What are the male equivalents of Spinster and old maid?
I suppose bachelor but that doesn’t seem to have the same vibe.

The fact there isn’t one tells us all we need to know about the contempt society reserves for old single women. And that a fat, balding, adulterous old chauvinist feels it’s ok to say that out loud only underlines it

eveningprimrose74 · 11/07/2026 13:54

Usually its the beeb who do this.
I've a feeling Andrew Boulton won't have long left at sky after that outburst.

Lumpycat · 11/07/2026 13:52

What are the male equivalents of Spinster and old maid?
I suppose bachelor but that doesn’t seem to have the same vibe.

ItWasGreatWhenItAllBegan · 11/07/2026 13:46

He’s issued a barely satisfactory explanation/apology but his inability to see yesterday that his comments were inappropriate reveals his character.

x.com/adamboultontabb/status/2075893192872927456?s=46&t=omuKeAgAjscgni2jfxrNng

KittyWilkinson · 11/07/2026 13:42

He's just awful generally, especially when there are women on the panel. You can see him itching to talk over them. He's just a pompous windbag with a mindset stuck back in the 1950s. Old stock.

I always think he would have made a good Dickens Beadle, but as a political commentator, he's well past his sell by date. Odious pompous git.

AgentPidge · 11/07/2026 13:37

Ugh! Total lack of respect for a woman who didn't need a man.
I was reading about her life and she had a three-year relationship with a bloke while at university, iirc. But marriage just didn't happen, and she was resigned to that and happy with it. She wore a wedding ring, to fend off attention from annoying blokes.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 11/07/2026 13:34

He’s always been a vile pig.

JohnBullshit · 11/07/2026 13:33

Fucking dickhead.

ouchynose · 11/07/2026 13:32

Wow! That’s quite shocking. He needs to be called out.

RavenT · 11/07/2026 13:27

Saw that. What a vile man.