Former tennis player Annabelle Croft impressed fans and judges alike after taking to the dance floor on hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
The 57-year-old, who is currently partnering professional dancer Johannes Radebe in the star-studded competition, gave stellar performances, keeping her fans on the edge of their seats. Previously ranked among the top 25 tennis players in the world, Annabelle demonstrated agility and tenacity on the dance floor.
But away from the spotlight, the TV presenter experienced a family tragedy. Earlier this year, Annabelle’s husband Mel tragically passed away after losing his battle with cancer.
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The Daily Star took a closer look at her life, career and how Strictly helped her get through her “dark” days.
“Unhappy” career
Annabelle currently works as a radio and television presenter, but before her successful career, she was once a professional tennis player. As a tennis player, she won the WTA Tour Virginia Slims tournament in San Diego and also represented Great Britain at the Fed Cup and Wightman Cup.
However, although Annabelle was set to take the world by storm with her amazing talent, the sports star decided to call it quits by the age of 21 because it no longer made her happy. Having previously shared her thoughts with the Daily Star, Annabelle admitted: “My heart just wasn’t in it.”
She said: “Going to the tennis court is like going into battle. There’s all this anger and hostility. It’s like a gladiator fight.”
“As a child, I expected to become a ballerina. Tennis was very different from Swan Lake!”
The star also admitted that she does not regret her decision to hang up her tennis racket. She continued: “No, I don’t regret stopping.
“I was on tour for seven years, surrounded by agents, managers, coaches, sponsors. By the age of 21, I was living the life of a person who was about 35. And I realized that this was the life I had chosen – constant travel, lack of friends – it was not what I expected.
“You give up everything related to school and social life: no parties, no boys. You don’t grow the normal way.” The star also said that she regrets not continuing her ballet career.
Married life
Annabelle met her late husband Mel Coleman, who worked as a yachtsman, when she was 21 when the couple were invited to take part in a TV show about sailing.
She previously said in an interview: “It was the first time I interacted with people my age. I put on normal clothes, not tennis gear. I went to the pub. For the first time, I didn’t have to think about my forehand or backhand or how I came out in front of the crowd.
Annabelle and Mel married in 1993. The couple lived in Coombe, near Wimbledon, in the London borough of Kingston, with their three children, Amber Rose and Lily, and son Charlie.
In 2009, the couple opened the Annabelle Croft Tennis Academy at the National Tennis Centre. Report also claims that Mel was working as an investment banker at the time.
Family tragedy
Annabelle lost her husband Mel to cancer earlier this year.
Tragically, the father-of-three was diagnosed with the condition just eight weeks before his death. Mel had previously complained of abdominal pain just two months before he was diagnosed.
The star previously shared her reaction when she first heard the news. She said: “I just went into complete free fall. I was one of those crying women in the hospital parking lot. Poor Mel was told he was going to die and he consoled me.”
Sharing the heartbreaking news on social media, Annabelle said: “My beloved Mel passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning after a short battle with cancer. My family and I are completely heartbroken and ask for privacy at this very sad time.”
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A family friend allegedly told the Daily Mail at the time: “It came as a huge shock to everyone – the diagnosis came completely out of the blue and Mel didn’t seem sick at the time. “Unfortunately, the cancer has progressed rapidly… Everyone is devastated and scared, and Annabelle is completely devastated.”
Putting on a brave face, Annabelle decided to return to work a few weeks later and fans shared their condolences. One social media user said at the time: “Tragic. So sad, always watched her at Wimbledon, amazing woman, such sad, heartbreaking thoughts with Annabelle, all her family and loved ones,” one wrote.
Strictly distracting
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Annabelle previously admitted that Strictly was a great distraction from her recent loss.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine, Annabelle told host Lorraine Kelly that Strictly had brought her joy and allowed her to stop thinking “dark thoughts”. She said: “It felt good to do something happy, use my body and try to give my brain a break from too many dark thoughts.”
The star also revealed that her husband enjoys watching the BBC show every week and she was sad that he couldn’t cheer her up. She previously said: “He always loved the show and cried while watching it, so I’m absolutely heartbroken that he’s not here to watch with me.”
In addition, Annabelle also admitted that her partner Johannes was her husband’s professional dancer. Singing her praises during ITV’s Lorraine, Annabelle told Johannes he was a pleasure to work with.
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