Kate's been grieving for a long time... I can imagine how she feels

Annabel on losing her own husband

ANNABEL Croft says Kate Garraway will have been grieving for "a long time" for husband Derek Draper as she opens up about suddenly becoming a widow.

The Strictly Come Dancing star unexpectedly lost her husband Mel Coleman, 60, in May last year just weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.

By contrast, ex-political lobbyist Derek, 56, died in January following long-lasting symptoms from Covid that first put him in hospital in March 2020.

Former tennis player Annabel, 57, said: "Kate's been going through [grief] for a long time and it's very different, but I can imagine how she's feeling.

"Grief is horrendous and I take every day as it comes. I try to fill the day with nice things but when I'm on my own at home, if I start looking at pictures, I start sobbing.