BBC Strictly Come Dancing star may 'never date anyone again' after husband's death

BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft has admitted she may never date again following the death of her late husband. Eighteen months on from the death of her husband, the grief is still raw for the former tennis star and Strictly favourite.

The BBC Wimbledon favourite said: "I’ve had people asking for dinner dates. I’m, like, ‘You have no idea!’ I’m not anywhere close to that. It gives me the heebies to think about it. It’s never say never, but I wouldn’t mind if it was never."

But although she's unsure of the future of her love life, she is certain she won't feel "doom and gloom" forever, saying she tries to "live in the moment", knowing happiness is what Mel would have wanted for her, before his death last year.

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Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel also spoke of Mel's love for Johannes Radebe and Strictly - who she ended up being partnered with - saying he was his favourite dancer and Mel was "blown away" by him. Annabel recalled how, although it was "weird" for a football fan, he was "obsessed" with Strictly, and would call the family in to watch Johannes on the dancing competition.

Mourning for Coleman, whom she had been with for 36 years and who was her first serious boyfriend, the show was a lifeline. “People kept saying, ‘Wow, I can’t believe you’re doing this,’ but it was the most incredible opportunity to help with my grief,” she says.

She said: “It still wasn’t easy. There were many times when I was sobbing, so despairing of what had happened. I was in shock. I’m still in shock. I still can’t believe Mel’s been taken from us, it’s unthinkable. He was larger than life, the rock of our family, and then this literally came out of nowhere. It’s really cruel.”