25 November 2023 , 18:17
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Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft has confessed she is "crying every day" following the death of her husband Mel Coleman.
The former tennis champion, 57, lost her husband in May aged 60 and has been overwhelmed by grief ever since. Mel's passing was a massive shock to his family, as it occurred just 16 weeks after the healthy former round-the-world yachtsman was diagnosed with colon cancer.
In a recent interview Annabel broke down in tears, but shared she has cried every day since Mel died. She also shared that Mel's "lovely linen suits that he would wear to Wimbledon" are still hanging in her wardrobe, and his toothbrush hasn't moved. Annabel hoped joining Strictly would help ease some of her pain.
Annabel's husband Mel died age 60 earlier this year (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The former tennis player says Strictly has helped to give her 'a purpose' (PA)In an interview with MailOnline, the BBC star broke down in tears as she said: "It's OK because I've cried every day since Mel died." She admitted she hasn't been able to collect his ashes from the crematorium yet. "I know I have to," she reflected. "People say it's a comfort to have them, but I just can't. Ashes? Mel?
"I didn't understand what grief was until now," she continued. "I didn't even understand death, had never thought about it. Now I think: 'God, Mel, you've done death. How is that even possible?' How can I be a widow? We were a team.'" Annabel shared her heartbreak before her first Strictly dance, missing the one person who could give her a pep talk.
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"So I just sat and cried," she said, remembering the night before her Strictly debut, "Mel was my biggest supporter, my protector. He gave me confidence." She has three grown-up children with her late husband: Charlie, Amber and Lily. Annabel decided to join Strictly Come Dancing hoping it might ease some of her pain.
She also mentioned that her late husband was a big fan of her dance partner Johannes Radebe, confirming "he was Mel's favourite Strictly star". Annabel recently explained how the competition has given her a purpose and something else to focus on following her husband's tragic passing.
Speaking on This Morning earlier this week, she admitted: "There's no question about it. I'm not sure where I would be at if I hadn't had this opportunity to dance with Johannes. I mean it has been a horrific year; it's something I'd never have anticipated. It was never meant to be how life was going to be. I thought I had a future with my husband; we've been together since I was 21. 36 years together and I miss him terribly - there's no question about it."
She added: "I want to speak to him about what we're doing and I miss his humour. I really wish that Johannes had met him because I feel like they would have got on so well. And he adored Johannes when he used to watch the programme." Speaking about what the show means for her, she explained: "I think it's given me a purpose to get up in the morning and with some of the dances we've done, we've had such an incredible response - particularly our couple's choice dance."
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