Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft has revealed how Johannes Radebe reminded her of her late husband.
Annabel took part in the show following the passing of her husband, Mel, in May, with her partnership with Johannes enchanting viewers as they reached the semi-final.
Following the conclusion of the series, Annabel spoke about her Strictly experience in an interview with the Daily Mail, revealing that her dance partner possessed a quality that applied to her late husband.
Related: Gorka Marquez addresses when he plans to return to Strictly Come Dancing
“That [moment of healing] came when he made me laugh,” she revealed. “The thing that has most surprised me was how much I have laughed over the past weeks. When Mel died, I didn’t think I would ever laugh, or feel joy, again.
“During our training I would end up in hysterics about something. I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘You are making me laugh like my husband used to make me laugh’ – because that’s what I miss most about Mel, his sense of humour, his ability to never take a situation too seriously.
“[Johannes] should be available on prescription from the NHS. And I think my children want him to move in with us. They adored him, and he them. It sounds twee but he really has become part of the family.”
Related: Strictly’s Nigel and Katya reunite following show finale
The 2023 series was eventually won by Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, with the former Coronation Street star subsequently likening her triumph to “living in a dream”.
“I don’t think this feeling will ever feel real. For 3 months I feel like I’ve been living in a dream, I’m still waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up!!!!!!” she wrote. “I knew I was going to have fun – I didn’t know just how much fun I would have.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Tickets for Strictly‘s 2024 live arena tour are available now.
Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dancing? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
You Might Also Like
