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

Annabel on losing her own husband

- MARK JEFFERIES

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.