Strictly’s Annabel Croft says ‘I’m sad’ as she shares reason why she’s doing live tour without Johannes Radebe

Strictly Come Dancing[1] star Annabel Croft has revealed her sadness that she’s not performing with dance partner Johannes Radebe on the show’s upcoming tour. The 57-year-old shared her excitement that she’s continuing dancing, albeit without Johannes, whilst chatting to Ranvir Singh on ITV[2]‘s Lorraine on Monday, December 18. After paying tribute to Johannes, who she described as “special”, Annabel said: “We’re both sad about [not doing the tour together].

I think that Johannes has his own tour, so he’s promoting his own show and I think it was too close to this tour and his body also needs a rest.” She added: “He needs to recharge his batteries so I think he’s probably sad that he couldn’t make it work but I hear that term ‘keep dancing’ and I now realise what that is because I do want to keep dancing. When I got the opportunity to do the tour, I thought ‘oh wow, how wonderful to just keep going.’ But of course, I’d love to have been with him.”

Annabel will instead be performing with Johannes’ friend, Graziano Di Prima[5], who danced alongside Love Island star Zara McDermott during this year’s series of Strictly. Speaking of Graziano, Annabel said: “I’ve met and been around Graziano through the whole show so it’ll be different, but I’m hoping it’s going to be a lot of fun as well.”

Annabel will be dancing with Graziano, who was partnered with Zara McDermot this year

The annual Strictly Come Dancing tour will be running throughout early 2024. In Wales, the show will be coming to Cardiff[6] and Swansea[7].

Annabel and Johannes ultimately fourth during this year’s Strictly. Her appearance on the show came months after her husband, Mel Coleman, passed away after a battle with stomach cancer. Discussing her first Christmas[8] without Mel, Annabel told Ranvir: “Your feet are going to come back down to earth quite quickly and I haven’t had time to even think for a moment because every day, as I said on the show, it was giving me a perfect us to get up out of bed in the morning and go and see Johannes.

“It is going to be a bit weird this Christmas. I mean, I would never have believed we had a very normal family Christmas last year. I would never have believed that one year later my husband wouldn’t be around so it’s horrific.”

Strictly Come Dancing came to an end last weekend and saw Coronation Street star Ellie Leach crowned champion with dance partner Vito Coppola.

The series is set to return for a Christmas special later this month. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter[9].

References

  1. ^ Strictly Come Dancing (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  2. ^ ITV (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  3. ^ The Masked Singer’s Mo Gilligan has second show cancelled in less than a week (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  4. ^ The One Show’s Alex Jones says ‘biggest thanks’ as BBC programme taken off air (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  5. ^ Annabel will instead be performing with Johannes’ friend, Graziano Di Prima (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  6. ^ Cardiff (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  7. ^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  8. ^ Christmas (www.walesonline.co.uk)
  9. ^ For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter (www.walesonline.co.uk)