Annabel Croft urges Tim Henman to say yes to Strictly but tennis star has one major fear

Annabel Croft, the former professional tennis star, has revealed she has been encouraging fellow Wimbledon legend Tim Henman to participate in Strictly Come Dancing, but he is "terrified".

The 57-year-old TV presenter and radio host secured a fourth place finish on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, making it all the way to the semi-finals. She still shares a strong bond with her dance partner, Johannes Radebe, 37.

Discussing her time on the show, Annabel described it as the "most magical and wonderful" experience of her life. She went on to say that she has been trying to "replicate that feeling" ever since she participated in the show.

In her conversation with Bella magazine, Annabel said: "I would always recommend it to anybody to go on. I'm always saying to Tim Henman that he should say yes, but he's terrified."

Tim is always refusing, stating, "No, I'm never going to do it'. However, Annabel believes that taking part in Strictly would provide an amazing experience for anyone, as it involves learning a new skill, reports the Mirror.

Being part of the renowned dance programme has certainly impacted Annabel in a positive way, provoking her to reintegrate dancing into her life.

Discussing the benefits, she mentioned that her stint in Strictly did her a "world of good", adding that it's "so joyful" and "so beautiful".

She divulged that the tragic death of her husband Mel Coleman in 2023, due to cancer, prompted her decision to join Strictly Come Dancing.

Mel was a huge fan of the show, so she chose to participate as a means of distraction from her grief, having admitted to shedding tears daily since his passing.

Annabel, who is set to provide commentary at The Championships, Wimbledon, this summer, also revealed that she remains "very, very good friends" with Johannes.

Formerly Britain's top female tennis player, Annabel also shared her predictions for Wimbledon 2024, suggesting that "all eyes" will be on Carlos Alcaraz.

She hinted at other players to keep an eye on, including Jannik Sinner (the current male number one), Iga Swiatek (the female number one), and crowd favourite Ons Jabeur.

Speaking about her upcoming projects, she mentioned: "I've done some stuff with This Morning recently with my van called "Vannabel", so I'm looking to do more of that."

"We took it out to Yorkshire and explored the area, and it was a bit like doing Treasure Hunt again, but with my van!"