{"id":243582,"date":"2023-12-11T20:20:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T20:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=243582"},"modified":"2023-12-11T20:20:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T20:20:41","slug":"bbc-strictlys-annabel-croft-emotional-as-she-hopes-late-husband-is-looking-down-on-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/tv-and-movies\/bbc-strictlys-annabel-croft-emotional-as-she-hopes-late-husband-is-looking-down-on-her\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Strictly’s Annabel Croft emotional as she hopes late husband is ‘looking down on her’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Annabel Croft has shared that she hopes her late husband Mel Coleman would be proud of her Strictly Come Dancing journey.<\/p>\n

The former tennis champ, 57, became the 10th celebrity eliminated from Strictly during Sunday night's results show, and on Monday evening she appeared on the companion show It Takes Two.<\/p>\n

Annabel and her dance partner Johannes Radebe joined host Fleur East for an interview, which also saw them watch their best bits and a VT in which they reflected on their time together.<\/p>\n

In one clip Annabel, whose husband of 36 years died just a few months ago, emotionally told Johannes: "You've actually brought a lot of joy into my life and helped to alleviate the pain."<\/p>\n

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And opening up about Mel, she continued: "I just hope he's looking down and is proud."<\/p>\n

After it was announced that she would be departing the dance competition, just one week before the final, Annabel said: "It\u2019s been the most life-changing and extraordinary experience of my life. I have to congratulate Bobby and Dianne and all the contestants that took part in it.<\/p>\n

"But obviously, it\u2019s been an amazing, magical experience for me. Johannes, you have been absolutely extraordinary. You have given me a reason to get out of bed and come and dance with you, distract me and to heal me.<\/p>\n

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"I can\u2019t thank you enough for that. You have been so patient, so caring and so loving. You are an unbelievably special human being. I simply adore you. Thank you so much."<\/p>\n

Annabel, who shares children Amber Rose, Lily and Charlie with Mel, had previously shared how she was honouring her late husband on Strictly.<\/p>\n

Annabel and Johannes performed an emotional Couple's Choice dance in memory of Annabel's late husband on the BBC show, which Mel was a huge fan of.<\/p>\n

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After the emotional performance, Annabel told Johannes: "I just wish you had met my husband, because I have these flashbacks to our house and him watching you with tears running down his face.<\/p>\n

"Honestly, it's so special, it's beyond anything I could put into words. He used to cry watching it. He used to call me over if I was cooking, and he was crying watching it. So, I hope he's watching up there."<\/p>\n

Annabel met her husband Mel in the 1980s and they were happily married for over 30 years before his tragic death earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n