Annabel Croft is using 'Strictly Come Dancing' as a "distraction" from her grief.

Annabel Croft thinks Strictly is a nice distraction from her grief

Annabel Croft thinks Strictly is a nice distraction from her grief

The 57-year-old tennis legend is currently taking part in the BBC One Lagtin and ballroom show alongside professional partner Johannes Radebe but following the death of her husband Mel Coleman - who passed away in May at the age of 60 following a short battle with cancer - and explained that she is just focusing on "each dance" rather than winning the whole series.

Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', she said: "It's been a nice distraction - that's a good word - from grief. And it has just been nice to do something joyful and use my body and rest my brain. I'm a huge fan of this gorgeous man and it all just kind of works.

"We've talked about it a lot, I know it's a competition and everyone focuses on the competition. Lots of people come up to you and say 'Oh, the glitterball, the glitterball', but we are just we're not thinking about that. We are just thinking about each dance, each step. Enjoying the moment and wherever it takes us is how we view it."

Meanwhile, the sports star received mixed reviews on her latest performance on the show from judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke but insisted that whilst she finds the competition a "challenge", she still loves the whole experience.

She added: "I learn something every second of every day and [Johannes] does not miss a trick when we're rehearsing. It's a challenge,but it's great fun. It's been an amazing experience already. I 've loved both of the dances we've done, thye've been quite frantic and I think we kind of galloped our way round the stage but this week will be a little bit slower!"

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