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Annabel Croft signs up for ‘joyfulness’ of Strictly three months after losing husband to cancer
Former tennis star says BBC show has ‘come at the right time’ as she becomes 14th celebrity contestant confirmed for this year’s series
Annabel Croft, the former British number one tennis player, has signed up for Strictly Come Dancing to “enjoy the joyfulness of dancing”.
It comes just three months after her husband passed away from cancer.
Nigel Harman, the British actor, is also named as the latest celebrity contestant to star in the show.
Croft, who was the youngest Briton to compete at Wimbledon for almost a century at the age of 15, said Strictly Come Dancing had “come at the right time for me” after she announced the death of her husband, Mel Coleman, in May.
On Thursday, the Tennis Academy founder, 57, who became a junior champion at Wimbledon in 1984 at the age of 18, appeared on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio to announce the Strictly news: “My husband used to love watching Johannes [Radebe]. I just think he’s so amazing, that would be a dream to dance with him.
“I just admire so much what they do and I think dance is really what all of us should be doing every day, it releases so much tension, it gets your body moving, it’s so good for your brain and when you talk about the mental side of everything ... It has just come at the right time for me and I hope I get rid of any stresses and just go out there and enjoy it.”
Croft revealed she had found out about her Strictly debut only “in the last few days” and has not danced for years – apart from the odd TikTok dance on the beach with her daughters.
“I have always loved this magical, magical show and my family have loved it but I’m also absolutely terrified at the same time,” she said.
“I know it’s a competition but I don’t really want to compete, other than with myself. I just want to enjoy the joyfulness of dancing.
“I’ve always loved watching dance, I could watch it all day. When I watch those professionals, I can’t take my eyes off [them] they’re so amazing.
“I’m a bit stiff, I’m going to be honest. I think my hips could do with a bit of WD40 but I’m hoping whoever I’m paired up with helps me improve.”
On joining the Strictly cast this year, Harman, 49, who is known for his role playing Dennis Rickman in BBC soap EastEnders, told Christine Lampard on ITV chat show Lorraine: “As the days have crept up to this moment I’ve been going, what have I done?”
The Strictly line-up so far includes Bobby Brazier, the EastEnders actor, Ellie Leach, former Coronation Street star, and Jody Cundy, the paralympic champion, as well as Nikita Kanda, BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show host, actress Amanda Abbington, Layton Williams, the star of Bad Education, and broadcaster Angela Rippon.
They will be joined on the dancefloor by journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi, Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back to host the show when it returns to screens in the autumn.