Strictly’s Annabel Croft has opened up about her ‘sleepless nights’ since embarking on the BBC dance competition as the first live dances loom this weekend.
Professional tennis star Annabel, 57, is hoping to do her husband’s memory proud on Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
She is paired with Strictly professional Johannes Radebe for this series and on Thursday Annabel joined the BBC One Show to talk about the pair’s upcoming first live dance.
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Annabel, who said she wanted to go on Strictly because her husband – who suddenly died of cancer earlier this year – loved the show, has been so dedicated to the series that she hasn’t been able to sleep.
She told Alex Jones: “I have had more than a couple of sleepless nights. I have had Johannes’ voice and the music in my head all night, counting steps, trying to remember everything. It’s quite terrifying but I am living the dream. I wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to see Johannes.
“I practice at night in bed and I start doing these arm movements. Poor Johannes is so patient and you have to say things 10,000 times to me. You are incredibly patient and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I just want to work on myself and try to do the best for me, I don’t want to let Johannes down.”
Johannes then revealed the dance the pair will be doing on Saturday. He said: “We are doing a cheeky cha cha cha to a certified banger, by Billy Joel – Uptown Girl.”
(Image: BBC)
One Show viewers were then treated to some insight about Annabel’s past – the secret of her Celebrity Wrestling success which could help her on the dancefloor.
Alex Jones told Annabel: “You could be the dark horse, because we do know you’ve already won a celebrity competition. Which was Celebrity Wrestling. So you’ve got form.”
Annabel added: “Well I’m not sure about that. I just want to purely have fun and enjoy learning these moves. I would have had no concept of what some of the moves are, so it’s given me a much better understanding and it’s just spectacular. But I just want to work on myself and try to do the best for me.”
What is Celebrity Wrestling?
Broadcast on ITV in 2005, Celebrity Wrestling saw two teams of stars compete in wrestling events against one another. The main show was presented by Kate Thornton, while an aftershow with Holly Willoughby was shown on ITV2.
The programme included stars like Kate Lawler, Victoria Silverstedt and Annabel Croft, of course, take on the likes of Jeff Brazier, Michlle Heaton and Jenny Powell.
The programme did not do well, and after five weeks of terrible ratings it was quietly moved to a Sunday morning graveyard slot and did not get brought back for a second series.
Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One this Saturday at 6.15pm
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