Strictly’s Annabel Croft admits she ‘cries every day’ after husband Mel’s death
This Morning: Annabel Croft speaks about losing her husband
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Annabel Croft has admitted she “has cried every day” since the death of her beloved husband Mel Coleman.
The former tennis champion, 57, suffered the devastating loss of her husband back in May and has since been consumed by grief.
Mel’s death came as a huge shock to his family, as it happened just 16 weeks after the healthy former round-the-world yachtsman was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Speaking about her husband’s unexpected diagnosis in an interview with MailOnline, the BBC star was reduced to tears as she explained: “It’s OK because I’ve cried every day since Mel died.”
The bereaved star lamented that Mel’s “lovely linen suits that he would wear to Wimbledon” are still hanging in her wardrobe, while his toothbrush is still in the same place.
READ MORE: Annabel Croft says show’s given her ‘purpose to get up’ after ‘horrific’ year
“I should throw it away. I can’t,” she said, before confessing she also hasn’t felt able to collect his ashes from the crematorium.
“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.
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“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 went on to recall her heartbreak ahead of her first time on the Strictly dance floor as she struggled to go on without the one person who could give her that much-needed pep talk.
“So I just sat and cried,” she said of the night before her Strictly debut. “Mel was my biggest supporter, my protector. He gave me confidence.”
Annabel shares three grown-up children with her late husband: a son named Charlie, as well as daughters Amber and Lily.
The star decided to take part in Strictly Come Dancing with the hopes that it might help to “alleviate” some of the pain she is feeling.
She also previously revealed that her late husband was a big fan of her dance partner Johannes Radebe, confirming “he was Mel’s favourite Strictly star”.
Strictly Come Dancing continues this Saturday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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