Annabel Croft returns to the Strictly dancefloor after admitting she ‘cries every day’ over death of beloved husband Mel Coleman as she scores 30 points for emotional Waltz

By William On Oct 7, 2023

Annabelle Croft returned to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor on Saturday night after admitting she “cries every day” over the death of her husband Mel Coleman.

The former tennis player, 57, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe scored 30 points for their emotional Waltz to Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Annabelle’s late husband and father to their three children Charlie, Amber and Lily died earlier this year, aged 60, just weeks after being diagnosed with stage three cancer.

His death came just two months after he began complaining of stomach pains.

The radio presenter recently revealed she was ‘sobbing’ over her loss the night before her debut on the BBC show in an interview with The Daily Mail.

Emotional: Annabelle Croft, 57, returned to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor on Saturday night after admitting she ‘cries every day’ over the death of her husband Mel Coleman

Upset: Her late husband died earlier this year, aged 60, weeks after being diagnosed with stage three cancer (pictured in 2021)

Taking to the dance floor, Annabelle channeled her inner Audrey Hepburn in a stunning black gown with a plunging neckline.

After a solid performance, she scored 8 from Craig and Motsy and 7 from Shirley and Anton, bringing her total to 30 points.

Speaking in her first devastating interview since losing her husband Mel, Annabelle told the Daily Mail how she was ‘sobbing’ at her loss the night before her debut on the BBC show.

The only person who could have given her a pep talk and a hug, as he had done throughout her adult life, was not there.

“So I just sat there and cried,” she recalls. ‘Mel was my biggest supporter, my protector. He gave me confidence. He made things right, he always did. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to say, ‘I’m really nervous about tomorrow, but I don’t have you to sort it out.’

“It was a strange scenario. I wanted to go out in front of millions of people and be cheerful and happy, but I was sobbing, thinking, ‘I don’t know where you are, Mel. Where did you go?’.’

Strictly fans will know that former tennis ace Annabel came to the competition from a difficult place.

Routine: The former tennis player and her professional partner Johannes Radebe scored 30 points for their emotional Waltz to Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Stunning: On the dance floor, Annabelle channeled her inner Audrey Hepburn in a stunning black gown with a plunging neckline

She was widowed in May after losing her husband to cancer. They were together for 36 years, and he was her first serious boyfriend. “There was never anyone else,” she said.

What was particularly brutal was the speed. Mel, a roughly healthy former round-the-world yachtsman, went from diagnosis to death in 16 weeks.

“It’s unthinkable,” Annabelle said. “How can someone disappear in three months?” We didn’t even know he was sick.

‘The day they said ‘Cancer, and it’s everywhere’, I just went into complete free fall. I was one of those women crying in the hospital parking lot.

“Poor Mel was the one who was told he was going to die, and he comforted me.” Three months later, I was collecting the death certificate and our three children had to process the fact that their father’s name was there.

Grief: Speaking in her first devastating interview since losing husband Mel, Annabelle told the Daily Mail how she ‘sobbed’ the night before her debut on the show (pictured on their wedding day)

“Our son Charlie said it was like a hand came down from the sky and ripped Mel out, leaving our family with a gaping hole that will never be filled.”

She said Mel’s suits — “his lovely linen suits that he would have worn at Wimbledon” — were still hanging in the closet. The other day she picked up his toothbrush by mistake and got hit. “I should throw it away. Can not.’

Annabelle failed to collect his ashes from the crematorium. “I know I have to,” she says. “People say it’s a comfort to have them, but I just can’t.” Ashes? Mel?

“I didn’t understand what sadness was until now.” I didn’t even understand death, I never thought about it. Now I’m thinking, ‘God, Mel, you did death. How is that even possible?’ How can I be a widow? We were a team.’