Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
White van Ann7
Tennis ace takes camper on road to honour late husband
FROM coastline to countryside, Annabel Croft is off on a bittersweet journey in her campervan, a habit she started with her late husband.
In a three-part series on This Morning, the former tennis player turned TV presenter, 57, will explore North Yorkshire in trusty “Vannabel”.
It is particularly poignant as Annabel’s husband Mel Coleman died last year aged 60, just 16 weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Strictly Come Dancing star said: “A few years ago, my late husband Mel and I converted an old delivery van with the idea of exploring the best of Britain together.
“Life doesn’t always work out the way you plan and, although I have some wonderful memories of us in
Vannabel, I want to continue what we started and spend more time discovering Britain.” She added that Vannabel has been her “absolute labour of love”.
“Strap yourselves in, we are going off-grid from coastlines to countryside, so pitch up with Vannabel and I for our journey of discovery.”
Annabel later signed up for Strictly and praised the BBC show for providing a welcome distraction after losing her love.
She said previously: “I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t had Strictly at this period of time. “Because it has been such a distraction away from terrible
grief and, you know, I had
no concept of what grief was. So, to be able to get up in the morning and to have a purpose rather than just sobbing at home, even though that still happens.” Annabel’s new series comes as Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley achieved its best audience numbers of the year so far on This Morning with 4.5 million viewers over the week. Viewing figures for January to March 2024 were also up 5% compared with 2023.
Catch Camper Vannabel from tomorrow on This Morning at 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Strap yourselves in and pitch up with Vannabel and I for our journey of discovery ANNABEL CROFT ON HER CAMPERVAN TRAVEL SERIES