Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft revealed she’s yet to pick up her late husband’s ashes, almost a year on from his death. During a phone-in on This Morning, one listener wanted some advice on how to cope with grief after losing her husband a few weeks ago.
Annabel replied: “I’m so sorry for your loss and I can feel your pain, I’m going through it the exact same as you but you’re even more recent than Mel who died last May. If it’s any consolation, I have not picked up by husband’s ashes yet.
“I’m what, eight/nine months in? It was just the finality of knowing my husband, who was such a vibrant person, a vibrant character with such a great sense of humour, was suddenly going to be in this urn or this box. I still can’t bring myself to do it.”
The 57-year-old told ITV viewers that there are times when she’s driving and is closeby to the funeral director and debates going inside. She continued: “But I just can’t do it so I absolutely feel for you.”
Giving some words of advice and encouragement, Annabel told the caller having great friends surrounding her will help when she’s feeling low. She added: “Also, it’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling.”
The Strictly star revealed there are times when she’s at home uncontrollably sobbing when she’s alone to get it out of her system.
She continued: “I feel so much better when it’s passed, but you will continue to feel like that for a long time.
“I’m not sure that we ever get over what we’re suffering but you just hope that the tears don’t come quite as frequently as where you’re in the midst of it right now.”
Annabel has openly spoken about the death of her husband Mel Coleman, who died at the age of 60 following a short battle with cancer.
The former tennis star, who was married to Mel for over 30 years, announced his death in May 2023.
Her husband was diagnosed with stage three cancer after first complaining of stomach pain for two months.
Sadly, Mel, he died eight weeks after his condition was discovered
Four months after his death, Annabel appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, where she constantly paid tribute to her professional partner Johannes Radebe for supporting her through her grief.
Speaking on Loose Women last year, she said: “With Strictly and meeting Johannes and going on this journey together it literally has distracted me from all of that pain.”
Addressing Johannes, she added: “You give me so much purpose to get up in the morning and come and dance, it’s been really special.”
During her time on the show, she moved BBC viewers to tears with a special performance dedicated to her late husband.
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am.