Annabel Croft wants to "do something different" for her first Christmas without her husband.
Annabel Croft lost her husband Mel in May following a short battle with cancer
The 57-year-old tennis legend was married to Mel Coleman - who died earlier this year at the age of 60 following a short battle with cancer - and has Amber, 27, Charlie, 26, as well as 24-year-old Lily with him but admitted that now that her time on the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' is up, she now has to face the prospect of her first Christmas without him.
Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', Annabel - who placed fourth in the BBC Latin and ballroom show - told stand-in host Ranvir Singh: "It's a bit weird. My feet are going to come back down to earth quite quickly. I haven't even had time to think for a moment because every day as I said on the show it gave me a purpose to get out of bed in the morning and go and see [professional partner] Johannes [Radebe], put my dancing kit on. My kids were very much a part of the whole thing and I really could not have done it without them.
"Johannes came to our house many times and they loved him, he loved them. We hope this is going to be the beginning of a lifelong friendship but it is going to be a bit weird this Christmas.
"I would never have believed...we had a very normal family Christmas last year, and I would never have believed that one year later my husband wouldn't be around.
"It's horrific - you don't even know how to put words to describe it but we're going to try to do something a little bit different this year. Nobody wanted to be at the house. Mel always carved the turkey, he did the ham and was always just busybodying around in the kitchen."
The sports star - who will perform in the 2024 live tour of 'Strictly Come Dancing' - went on to pay tribute to professional Amy Dowden, 33, who was forced to take time away from the show after she was diagnosed with breast cancer this year but was able to return to Saturday's (16.12.23) final after finishing treatment for a guest appearance.
Annabel said: "She got a massive cheer when the light went on her for the group dance. She's had a very difficult time of it of late and it's just wonderful to see her out there enjoying herself. Of course, she's had a foot injury as well. I just couldn't believe she was up there giving it large, it was fantastic. I wish her all the best and wish her well."