05 November 2023 , 08:58
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Strictly Come Dancing fans were heartbroken after tennis star Annabel Croft paid a touching tribute to her late husband during her latest routine.
The 57-year-old sports star has become a firm favourite among Strictly viewers after being paired with 36-year-old professional dancer Johannes Radebe. She signed up to compete on Strictly for the 2023 season after the tragic death of her husband, Mel Coleman, who passed away in May aged 60, just weeks after he had been diagnosed with stage three cancer. Mel had been a huge fan of Strictly and Annabel has explained how she hopes she can do him proud by taking part in the show.
On Saturday night, Annabel and Johannes took to the ballroom floor to perform their couples choice dance - showing off their footwork as they performed a lyrical dance. And at the end of the performance, Annabel sent a kiss to the sky in a touching tribute to her late husband.
Ahead of her performance, Annabel shared some background about the dance. She told cameras: “This week it's Couple's Choice and we're dancing a lyrical dance to the song Wings by Birdy. I think this song is definitely a tribute to my husband Mel. It couldn't be anything other than that.
Strictly viewers were in tears as Annabel Croft sent a kiss to her late husband after her latest dance (BBC)"As soon as we met I was just taken by his massive smile and his great sense of humour. We were supposed to have our 30th wedding anniversary this year and I never ever saw what's happened coming."
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At the end of the routine, Annabel blew a kiss up to the sky, leaving viewers in tears as one fan wrote online: "Annabel sending a kiss to her husband broke me. A beautiful end to a stunning and brave performance." Another typed: "the ending of annabel and johannes’ dance had me sobbing, what a beautiful tribute."
And a further fan wrote: "every single moment of annabel and johannes’ dance was breathtakingly beautiful. it felt like a love letter to anyone who’s ever lost someone close to them. hold your loved ones tight."
It wasn't just the viewers who were left emotional - the judges were also in tears. Head judge Shirley Ballas said after the performance: "I don't tend to get very emotional... the stars were in the sky, you sat on your favourite bench, you danced with the most beautiful human. I didn't know your husband but I feel like I do." She added: "I have no words, it was just lovely!"
Last month, Annabel explained that taking part in Strictly was helping her through the loss of her husband - with whom she shares three children. She said: "It’s been a nice distraction from grief. It’s been nice to do something joyful and use my body and try to rest my brain from thinking too many dark thoughts.”
Annabel went on to say her late husband was a "huge fan" of the show and professional dancer Johannes. Talking about being partnered with Johannes, Annabel said: “I have struck gold. Johannes is just the most amazing human being."