Strictly's Annabel Croft breaks her silence following her departure in semi-final... as she brands her co-stars 'so deserving' and thanks pro partner Johannes Radebe

Annabel Croft has broken her silence after her Strictly departure on Sunday. Annabel Croft has broken her silence after her Strictly departure on Sunday The British former tennis player, 57, missed out on a spot in next week’s final after being defeated in the dance-off by actor Bobby Brazier in what was one of the closest semi-finals in the show’s 19-year history On Monday morning, she took to Instagram to share a lengthy and heartwarming post about her time on the show and her Salsa, which acted as her final dance 'Dancing a Salsa on Saturday night and being flung around like a rag doll was not something I will ever forget. After being eliminated, Annabel gushed: 'It’s been the most life changing and extraordinary experience of my life' Following her departure, Annabel, who lost her yachtsman husband Mel Coleman in May when he died of colon cancer just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed, lauded her Strictly partner Johannes Radebe for 'giving her a reason to get out of bed' Annabel and her three grown-up children were left devastated in May when Mel died of colon cancer just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed. Annabel Croft was the tenth star to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023 following Sunday's dreaded dance off Annabel and Johannes danced their Viennese Waltz to Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by Slow Moving Millie Annabel's exit means that the 2023 finalists have been revealed as Bobby and Dianne, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola and Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin But Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke saved Brazier, 20, and his partner Dianne Buswell. The former tennis star, 57, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe narrowly missed on a place in the final, after facing Bobby in the dreaded dance off Annabel had performed both the salsa and a Viennese waltz during Saturday's show, but found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard Annabel then added: 'It’s been the most incredible rollercoaster ride, I have had every single emotion you can imagine.