Strictly's Annabel Croft thanks co-stars for 'healing' her after husband's death

10 December 2023 , 20:57

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Strictly's Annabel Croft thanks co-stars for 'healing' her after husband's death

Annabel Croft thanked Strictly Come Dancing for “healing” her following the recent death of her husband.

She became the 10th celebrity eliminated from the BBC show, leaving finalists Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Layton Williams. The 57-year-old former tennis player lost out in a dance-off with EastEnders star Brazier, 20, and professional dancer Dianne Buswell.

Croft, whose husband Mel died in May aged 60 of cancer, thanked her dance partner Johannes Radebe, 36, and told him he had given her “a reason to get out of bed”. She said: “It’s been the most life-changing and extraordinary experience of my life.

Annabel became the 10th celebrity eliminated from Strictly (PA)

“It’s been an amazing, magical experience for me. Johannes, you’ve 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. I can’t 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.”

Radebe told Croft: “I would like to say thank you. Thank you for making the decision to come here. Thank you to Strictly Come Dancing for sending her my way. My life is richer with you in it. I hope we dance long after this has ended. You know my heart and I just want to tell you thank you, Annabel.”

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In the dance-off, Croft and Radebe performed a Viennese waltz in the style of Slow Moving Millie’s cover of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want, by The Smiths.

Soap star Brazier and Buswell performed a quickstep to Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin. Judge Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Croft while Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas opted to save Brazier.

Tom Bryant