Annabel Croft gave an emotional speech that left her children in tears as she became the 10th celebrity eliminated from on Sunday night. The 57-year-old former
Tennis player lost out following a dance-off with star Bobby Brazier, 20, and professional dancer Dianne Buswell. Annabel, , thanked her dance partner Johannes Radebe and told him he had given her “a reason to get out of bed” as she mourned her husband of 36 years. Her speech came as presenter Tess Daly had asked Annabel if she had any final words. The former tennis champion said: “It’s 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. “But obviously, it’s 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. “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.” Johannes told her: “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.” Annabel added: “It’s been the most incredible rollercoaster ride, I have had every single emotion you can imagine. “I really want to thank Strictly for letting me take part in this competition. Thank you to the judges, for your amazing comments and guiding us all along. “But I also see this as a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle and I wish that everyone in the public could see what goes on behind the scenes because it’s quite extraordinary the machinery that makes it work and makes the show what it is. The most wholesome family entertainment magical show with so much glitz and glamour and so much enjoyment for everybody. “It has been amazing and I can’t thank everyone enough. Thank you so much Johannes, for the most special time I have had with you.” The camera cut to her three children, who were in tears. previously admitted she wished her husband could have met her partner . Speaking on in November she spoke about losing her beloved husband, who sadly passed away from stomach
cancer in May. She said it has been a "horrific year" and admitted she wishes she could speak to him about Strictly and introduce him to professional dancer Johannes. Annabel said: "It has been a horrific year, it was something I've never anticipated, this was never meant to be how life was going to be, I thought I had a future with my husband, we'd been together since I was 21, 36 years together and I miss him terribly, there is no question about it." "I so want to speak to him about what we are doing, I miss his humour and I really wish that Johannes had met him because I feel like they would have got on so well," she heartbreakingly added. Annabel met her husband Mel in the 1980s and they were happily married for 30 years before his tragic death. Mel was a millionaire from his day
Job, while Annabel was a tennis ace who made a name for herself at just 15 before retiring early due to career setbacks. Annabel, who shared children Amber Rose, Lily and Charlie with Mel, made it her mission to honour her late husband on Strictly with Johannes. During the results show, the Strictly professionals performed a group number and Take That performed their new single This Life.
Actor Layton and his dance partner Nikita Kuzmin had topped Saturday night’s leaderboard with a combined score of 116 points from their two dances and last week’s performance – including a 40 for their Charleston, which earned a rare standing ovation from Revel Horwood. Soap star Ellie Leach and partner Vito Coppola were second on a combined 111 points, with Brazier in third on 107 and Croft fourth on 98, from the judges’ votes. The remaining three couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the final time. Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday December 16 at 7pm on
BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Annabel will be joining host Fleur East on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on Monday December 11 at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.