Wimbledon pundit Annabelle Croft has rejoined the BBC panel in 2026 as the former British tennis star’s personal life is back in the spotlight.
Tom Sunderland Sports columnist
08:00, 29 June 2026
Wimbledon pundit Annabelle Croft will return to BBC screens this summer (Image: Getty)
Annabelle Croft will once again take her place in the BBC broadcast team for Wimbledon 2026.
The former British tennis star has found success off the court, becoming a regular in SW19. So much so that many fans have been fascinated by Croft’s love life and her current relationship status.
The tennis ace-turned-presenter had been married to husband Mel Coleman for just 30 years when he died of stomach cancer in May 2023. Croft, 59, has spoken glowingly of her late partner in subsequent years and also discussed the long period of grief following his death.
However, the former tennis player also opened up about her future dating prospects and how that side of her life has changed. Not to mention the significant fortune she has earned from her highly successful media career.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Follow Wales Online’s Swansea City Facebook page for more news and analysis.
Dating position
Three years after the death of her husband Mel, it seems Croft still isn’t comfortable with the idea of dating again. She described the agony of her bereavement period in great detail, painting a visceral picture of how deeply she was affected when her yachtsman husband fell victim to cancer just 12 weeks after his diagnosis.
“I have traumatic memories of the day Mel died,” she told The Sun’s Fabulous magazine in 2024. “In his final hours, as he drifted in and out of consciousness, he began listing instructions like, ‘Change the tire on the van,’ and then telling the children, ‘Sorry, I won’t be able to attend your weddings.’
“This memory breaks my heart. After Mel’s death, it seemed unreal, but as if he was on a journey and would appear again. Oddly enough, the pain of grief seems to be intensified rather than lessened by the knowledge that he will not return.”
Croft opened up about her relationship life following the death of her late husband Mel (Image: Getty)
In 2024, just 18 months after Coleman’s death, Croft told The Times she was in no shape to re-enter the dating pool. However, it was not a lack of potential suitors.
“I had people invite me to dinner. I was like, “You have no idea!” I’m not close to that. I want to think about this. Never say never, but I wouldn’t mind if it was never.
“However, I don’t want to feel doomed and sad for the rest of my life. Mel would want me to be happy. I try to live in the moment, to stay as present as possible. This is the only way to be like an athlete.”
Croft has since revealed that she “didn’t want to be a professional widow.” However, she stressed at the time that she was not yet ready to return to the dating scene.
She later confirmed this position in an interview with Hello! magazine last year when she said: “I don’t even think about it. I don’t think about it at all. I’m not in that headspace—it’s too early.”
Buy VIP tickets for Wimbledon 2026 at Seat Unique
This article contains affiliate links and we will receive a commission on any sales we make from it. Find out more
Prices vary
Seat Unique
Buy tickets here
Wimbledon 2026 is just around the corner and Seat Unique tickets are now on sale with VIP access.
Growing net worth
Much of Croft’s financial empire is believed to have been built through her television career. Previous reports indicate that the British TV star is worth around £1.2 million, with only a small portion of that amount coming from her playing career.
After all, Croft only lasted about four years as a professional after winning Wimbledon and the 1984 Australian Open. By the time of her retirement in 1988, Croft had amassed around $200,000 in competition winnings (roughly £155,000 in today’s money, but that was worth less at old exchange rates).
After nearly 40 years of presenting and hosting shows on various networks, Croft has reached millionaire status. She even released her own fitness video, Annabel Croft’s Shape Tape, in 1990, although it is unknown how successful her venture was.
What is known is that Croft would have earned around £60,000 for her 2023 appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. Celebrities are reported to receive £25,000 in flat performance fees just for participating, but Croft’s fourth-place finish would have earned her a further £35,000 in rewards.