Annabel Croft went for a brisk walk on Thursday amid claims from Johannes Radebe that he almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after being paired with her.
The professional dancer, 36, and the tennis champion, 57, reached the semi-final after becoming firm favorites of both the public and the judges.
But the tennis champion seemed to be in great spirits despite Johannes’ recent admission.
She cut a stylish figure in a black quilted Canada Goose coat, paired with boot-cut denim jeans and a stylish faux fur hat and scarf.
Johannes revealed that he was originally unhappy with the producers’ choice of partner, as while Annabel was coming to terms with the death of her husband Mel, Johannes was also dealing with his own grief.
Annabel Croft, 57, went for a brisk walk on Thursday amid claims from Johannes Radebe that he almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after being paired with her.
The 36-year-old professional dancer and tennis champion reached the semifinals after becoming the firm favorite of both the public and the judges.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Johannes, who recently announced his memoir will be made into a film, revealed that two weeks before the start of Strictly he buried his cousin after he took his own life.
When he was Annabel’s partner, Johannes confessed that at first he felt confused by the producers’ decision and even considered the idea of asking not to have a partner that year.
He explained: ‘When they told me I was dancing with her, I thought: What are they trying to achieve? And I say this because two weeks before starting I buried my cousin who committed suicide.
“I didn’t feel anything, I wasn’t as excited as I normally would be, because I thought, this is supposed to be the most exciting period, I just came back from a very successful tour.” But then I had to go back home (South Africa).
He continued: “I could have stayed there longer, but after we buried him I had to fly back to the UK and do my audiobook.”
“That was difficult, and when Strictly started I thought, ‘Okay, I felt like I was going through the motions.’
‘So you can imagine when the partners said, I was like “okay, cool.” I really wanted to deal with it, but you never allow yourself the time to deal with whatever you’re going through in your life.
‘And yes, they said we think you’re the right person to partner with this woman. I told myself, they are coming. I remember calling my agent and thinking, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe we should say that I shouldn’t get a partner this year because I really need some time off.’
But the tennis champion seemed to be in high spirits despite Johannes’ recent admission as she stepped out in a black quilted Canada Goose coat, paired with boot-cut denim jeans.
Johannes revealed that he was originally unhappy with the producers’ choice of partner, as while Annabel was coming to terms with the death of her husband Mel, Johannes was also dealing with his own grief.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Johannes, who recently announced his memoir will be made into a film, revealed that two weeks before the start of Strictly he buried his cousin after he took his own life.
He explained: ‘When they told me I was dancing with her, I thought: What are they trying to achieve? And I say this because two weeks before starting I buried my cousin who committed suicide.’
Speaking of their steadfast friendship, he added: “I mean, a lot of people say, ‘Oh, Johannes, you helped Annabel,’ but no, Annabel helped me.”
Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, died in May from bowel cancer just 16 weeks after being diagnosed and throughout the competition the athlete paid tribute to how much Johannes had helped her.
However, despite being concerned about how Annabel’s pain would affect his own, the pair became best friends in the process.
“I mean, a lot of people say, ‘Oh, Johannes, you helped Annabel,’ but no, Annabel helped me,” he said.
Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, died in May of bowel cancer just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed and throughout the competition the athlete paid tribute to how much Johannes had helped her.