Former tennis champ and broadcasting royalty Annabel Croft on downsizing after the loss of her husband, why Strictly was a lifeline, and who to watch at Wimbledon
Annabel Croft is in a taxi on her way home after a corporate speaking engagement, fresh from a day of commentating at London’s Queen’s Club.
Annabel is one of the BBC’s top tennis presenters, covering tournaments worldwide – including Wimbledon, which starts tomorrow[/caption]
It’s 8:45pm, yet the former tennis pro is still brimming with energy. Is stamina her superpower? “It does feel a bit like that,” she laughs. “But this is peak season for me – and I love it.”
As one of the BBC’s most respected faces of tennis programming, Annabel covers tournaments around the globe including the Wimbledon Championships, which start tomorrow.
And the day before she steps on to Centre Court to host the trophy ceremony for a third year running, Annabel will celebrate her 59th birthday, plus a major milestone in her sporting career.
“I’ll be 59 on the penultimate day of Wimbledon, and that marks 50 years since I first picked up a racket at the age of nine,” she says, remembering the first time she gave tennis a go during a family holiday to Spain in 1975.
She went on to win junior versions of Wimbledon and the Australian Open and represented Great Britain in the Federation Cup (now the Billie Jean King Cup), becoming one of the world’s Top 25 players, before quitting at 21 after growing tired of travelling the world alone.
‘I’ve lived my whole adult life with Mel, and now I’m on my own’
Today, 38 years on, Annabel is encountering similar feelings again, two years since losing her husband Mel, 60, to cancer.
At the five-bedroom family home that Mel built, she occupies just the kitchen and her bedroom, saying she no longer “needs very much”.
“It’s taken me back to living on my own before Mel came into my life, as that 15-year-old playing at Wimbledon for the first time, travelling the world on planes and across America on Greyhound buses.
“I’ve gone full circle to that person, because I’ve had to,” says Annabel, who has spent the past few months sorting and decluttering in readiness to move.
I’ve realised I don’t need much any more. I don’t want overheads, maintenance, a garden to look after and pay for – anything that is excess to what I need.
“The house has been my life for 25 years. Everything about it is Mel, because he built it. We’ve had amazing memories here that are impossible to forget, but I’m ready to go,” she says, admitting she is looking forward to “simplifying” her life.
“What gives me pleasure is going for a morning walk in the park, running with my friends, having a coffee, a meal out and being with my family.
“I’ve realised I don’t need much any more. I don’t want overheads, maintenance, a garden to look after and pay for – anything that is excess to what I need.”
Annabel’s journey with America’s Cup yachtsman Mel began in 1987, when they met filming BBC yachting series Cudmore’s Call, when she was just 21.
“The pair went on to have three children, Amber, now 31, Charlie, 29, and Lily, 27.
“I’ve lived my whole adult life with Mel, and now it’s a weird thing to be doing [life] on my own,” she says.
“I just walk into an empty house, so I try to trick my brain into thinking about when Mel was out at a work function and I’d come into the house on my own. Only, every night it is like this.
“Thankfully, I’m busy – that’s always been the same and that’s helpful.”
Annabel remembers the days and nights she devoted to training during the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing soon after losing Mel, who died in May 2023, just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.
Partnered with South African dancer and choreographer Johannes Radebe, 38, the pair reached the semi-finals and the BBC show became a lifeline and welcome distraction.
“I wish I could find some way of replacing Strictly in my life in terms of what that show was to me.
“It was so special and joyful,” she says, choosing not to be drawn on recent Strictly controversies, specifically surrounding pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who quit over bullying claims.
Since then, duty-of-care measures have been introduced, including a 24-hour helpline and chaperones in rehearsal rooms.
“I think having a permanent chaperone would have been quite restrictive [when it comes to building] the relationship between you and the dancer,” says Annabel. “I would have found it quite awkward, but if that’s what you know, then that’s all you know.”
Annabel speaks regularly to Johannes, who she says she “adores”. But what of the friend she shared a lunch date with in April, sparking speculation of a new romantic connection?
“He’s my bank manager and a great friend who was also close to Mel,” sighs Annabel. “We were looking at photographs of Mel together. Mel adored him and he’s been really helpful to me.”
‘Sport was my chance to feel like I had something to offer’
Family is everything to Annabel – and now, that family is growing. In September, her eldest daughter Amber will welcome her first child.
“It feels like yesterday that I was cradling my baby [Amber] in my arms, feeding her, bathing her and taking her to nursery school.
“I can’t believe that same baby is now having a baby herself!” says Annabel, who hopes the birth will be before her nationwide speaking tour starts.
Annabel made history at 15 when she became the youngest Brit in nearly a century to play in the Wimbledon main draw[/caption]
“I leave on September 24, so I hope the baby isn’t late because I want to be supporting with cooking and helping out. Amber was 10 days early, so I’m hoping that her baby will be, too!”
Amber married husband Hector last summer and, in August, it’s son Charlie’s turn to tie the knot. But Annabel will not be imparting marital advice.
“I can’t bear hearing people talking about how to make a marriage work,” she says. “If you have to try and make it work, there’s something wrong.
“Marriage should just be, and if you’re compatible with somebody and enjoy their company, you go on the journey together.”
I was very shy and introverted and had no interest in academics. Sport was my chance to feel like I had something to offer.
Raised in Kent by her club-level-tennis-playing dad James, a chartered surveyor, and mum Susan, a housewife, Annabel was hooked from the moment she first picked up that racket aged nine.
“I remember gazing out of maths class at the sports pitches, because all I wanted to do was to be out there.
“I was very shy and introverted and had no interest in academics. Sport was my chance to feel like I had something to offer,” she says.
This summer, with women’s sport sitting front and centre of a blockbuster line-up of events, Annabel hopes young girls feel inspired, just as she was watching tennis rivals Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
“From women’s tennis returning to the Queen’s Club for the first time in 50 years and players excelling at Wimbledon, to the Lionesses defending their title at the Women’s Euros and female cricketers and rugby stars competing at their World Cups, these moments matter.
“Visibility drives engagement. Sport gave me so much, and it can do the same for the next generation of young girls.”
Annabel made history at 15 when she became the youngest Brit in nearly a century to play in the Wimbledon main draw.
At 18, she reached the third round, facing her idol Chris Evert on Court One – one of her “most defining” career moments – and won Junior Wimbledon Singles that same year.
‘I’ll always be part of Wimbledon history and that makes me proud’
But, aged 21, she stunned the tennis world by walking away.
“Ever since, people have come up to me and asked: ‘Why did you stop so early?’” she says, explaining that she “fell out of love” with the job.
“I didn’t want to live that circus lifestyle any more,” she adds, admitting the decision was unplanned.
“I shudder now, thinking: ‘How did I do that with such conviction but without any idea of what I was going to do?’
“I didn’t have an education or a plan. I was young and naive, and hadn’t actually thought beyond that moment.”
Fortunately, life after tennis served her well. After five years starring in pantomime, which built her confidence, Annabel found her stride in television, starring in Channel 4’s adventure series Network Seven, before replacing Anneka Rice on Treasure Hunt in 1989.
Once digital sports channels emerged, Annabel returned to her tennis roots, becoming a tennis presenter and pundit, first for Eurosport, then Sky Sports and the BBC.
These days, as a member of the All England Club, she still plays “two or three times a week”.
Occasionally, she gives friends guided tours, ending at the Wimbledon trophy cabinet, where her junior title is enshrined.
“At the time, it didn’t mean that much to me, but it does now. I’ll always be in that trophy cabinet, which is part of Wimbledon history,” she says. “That makes me proud.”
Does she regret not staying to win the women’s title?
“Of course, I would have loved to have won the main trophy, but I made a decision that I didn’t want to chase that dream any more.
“I regret that I didn’t understand what I was doing at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?”
Annabel lights up again as we discuss the players to watch at this year’s Wimbledon Championships, namely Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, 22, as well as British sensations Jack Draper, 23, and Emma Raducanu, 22 – who was the last Brit standing last month in the new WTA 500 event, the first time women’s tennis had been played at the Queen’s Club since 1973.
Annabel has also got her eye on American player Coco Gauff, 21.
“She’s had her ups and downs on her journey in tennis, but I admire her as a character and a player – her attitude, work ethic and how she’s battled through challenges,” she says of young French Open winner, Coco.
A woman after her own heart. . . Annabel’s nationwide 28-date tour starts September 25. For tickets, go to Awaywithmedia.com/tours/annabel-croft.
Family is everything to Annabel – and now, that family is growing. In September, her eldest daughter Amber will welcome her first child[/caption]
- Editorial Hair: Dino Pereira using Andreia Professional
- Make-up: Charlie Duffy using Delilah
- Styling: Lynne McKenna Annabel wears sports bra, Under Armour at Amazon.co.uk; skirt, Wimbledon Shop; necklace, bracelet, both Merci Maman; ring, Sif Jakobs; shoes, dress, John Lewis & Partners; sweatband, Wimbledon Shop; necklace, Lucy Quartermaine; rings, Sif Jakobs; shoes, Next
