Strictly’s Annabel Croft breaks down in tears as she pays heartbreaking tribute to her late husband Mel Coleman with Couple’s Choice dance

Strictly’s Annabel Croft brought viewers to tears as she paid a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband Mel Croft during Saturday night’s show.

The former tennis player, 57, cried as she remembered her beloved partner as she danced her lyrical routine Couple’s Choice with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, 36.

Annabel’s late husband and father of their three children Charlie, Amber and Lilly died earlier this year at the age of 60, just weeks after being diagnosed with stage three cancer.

Annabel said: ‘This week it’s Couple’s Choice and we’re dancing a lyrical dance to the song Wings by Birdy. I think this song is definitely a tribute to my husband Mel. It couldn’t be anything other than that.

‘As soon as we met, I was captivated by his huge smile and his great sense of humor. We were supposed to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this year and I never saw what was going to happen.

‘He was diagnosed on January 31st and was told he didn’t have much time left. I don’t think I could survive without the children.’

Their daughter Lily then told her mother: ‘I don’t think I recognize you from when you started Strictly to now. You’re so amazing right now.

‘My dad always loved watching Strictly. He loved watching Johannes. He is definitely the angel she needed as much as he did.”

Annabel took Johannes to a bench in Richmond Park where she and Mel walked to and sat on every day.

Viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to comment on the powerful performance.

They wrote: ‘I’m in pieces. What a moving and beautiful dance’ and ‘Annabel and Johannes. Couple’s choice. So emotional, I’m in tears.

‘Watching Annabel Croft dance, like many men pretend I don’t cry. Everyone who lost someone was there. We’ll see you!’

‘Johannes is such a sweet soul’ and ‘Annabel and Johannes – that hug at the end lasted far too long but otherwise a beautiful routine’.

Viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to comment on the powerful performance.

‘It was a strange scenario. I was about to go out in front of millions of people and be cheerful and happy, but I was sobbing and thinking, ‘I don’t know where you are, Mel. Where have you been?’.’

Fans of Strictly will know that former tennis talent Annabel came into the competition from a difficult position.

She was widowed in May after losing her husband to cancer. They had been together for 36 years and he was her first serious boyfriend. “There was never anyone else,” she said.

Sadness: Annabel previously revealed she ‘sobbed’ the night before her debut on the show (pictured on their wedding day)

The radio presenter recently revealed she was ‘sobbing’ over her loss the night before her debut on the BBC show in an interview with The Daily Mail.

The one person who could have given her a pep talk and a you-can-do-it hug, like he had done her entire adult life, wasn’t there.

“So I just sat there and cried,” she recalled. “Mel was my biggest supporter, my protector. He gave me confidence. He made things right, he always had. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to say, “I’m really nervous about tomorrow, but I don’t have you to make it up to me.”

What was particularly brutal was the speed of it. Mel, a healthy former sailor who traveled the world, went from diagnosis to death in sixteen weeks.

“It’s unthinkable,” Annabel said. ‘How can someone disappear in three months? We didn’t even know he was sick.

“The day they said, ‘Cancer, and it’s everywhere,’ I just went into total freefall. I was one of those wailing women in the hospital parking lot.

‘Poor Mel was the one who was told he was going to die, and he comforted me. Three months later I picked up a death certificate and our three children had to deal with the fact that their father’s name was on it.

“Our son, Charlie, said it was as if a hand had come out of the sky and plucked Mel out, leaving our family with a gaping hole that will never be filled.”

She said Mel’s suits – “his nice linen suits that he would wear to Wimbledon” – are still hanging in the closet. She accidentally lifted his toothbrush the other day and stood up in shock. “I should throw it away. I can not do it.’

Annabel was unable to remove his ashes from the crematorium. “I know I have to,” she says. ‘People say it’s a comfort to have them, but I just can’t. Ash? Mel?

‘Until now I didn’t understand what sadness was. I didn’t even understand death, had never thought about it. Now I’m thinking, ‘God, Mel, you committed death. How is that even possible?’ How can I be a widow? We were a team.’

COME STRICTLY DANCE 2023: THE PROFILES OF THE PARTICIPANTS

Angela Rippon

Age: 78

Profession: Journalist

Angela says: ‘Having been a Strictly fan since day one and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, as I’m about to turn 79. But I’m looking forward to the challenge and perhaps the opportunity to learn to dance the Argentine Tango.’

Amanda Abbington

Age: 49

Profession: Actress

Amanda says: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually very shy and self-conscious, so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things.”

Layton Williams

Age: 28

Profession: Actor

Layton says: ‘Absolutely exciting to confirm that I will be taking part in Britain’s most iconic dancing competition! It’s time to take it to the ballroom. I’m so excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’

Age: 53

Profession: Journalist

Krishnan says: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused that I’m joining Strictly on the basis of ‘You only live once!’ I can’t wait to start dancing, but I’m a little worried about my general decline.”

Age: 40

Profession: Comedian and radio host

Eddy says: ‘WOW. Anyone who knows me understands that music and dance are so important and central to who I am. I’m so incredibly proud and honored that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 team. I promise I’ll give you everything I’ve got. This is going to be a VIBE.

Angela Scanlon

Age: 39

Profession: TV presenter

Angela says:I’m not particularly fit, I have no idea how my pelvic floor will react to this dancing. I’ve never danced, apart from drunkenly jiving at a wedding!’

Age: 26

Profession: Documentary filmmaker and former Love Island star

Zara says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my grandma and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We danced around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.”

Adam Thomas

Age: 34

Profession: Actor and presenter

Adam says: ‘I can’t dance to save my life, but I like to learn and laugh with my professional. Take me to the dance floor… I can’t wait!’

Age: 22

Profession: Coronation Street star

Ellie says: ‘It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to do Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine, so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!’

Age: 20

Profession: EastEnders star and model

Bobby says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line-up, I can’t wait to start training as a professional dancer and add a few moves to my locker. I look forward to performing for everyone.”

Nigel Harman

Age: 49

Profession: Actor

Nigel says: ‘I’m amazed, excited and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show, I watched in awe as people twisted and turned around the screen. And now it’s my turn…gulp!’

Age: 57

Profession: Announcer and ex-tennis player

Annabel says: ‘I’ve always loved watching Strictly and can’t quite believe I’m going to be part of this magical show – swapping tennis balls for glitter balls and I’m looking forward to finding some joy in the process.’