In a move that no Strictly Come Dancing viewer would have wanted or saw coming, Annabel Croft is going to 'split' from pro partner Johannes Radebe, with fans left gutted by the news.
However, we haven't seen the last of the winning Annabel and Johannes partnership just yet, as while they won't dance together on the Strictly live tour, they will still perform together for as long as they remain in the new series, including this Saturday's quarter final. News of Annabel's partner 'swap' was confirmed as the line-up for the annual arena tour was completed on Tuesday, with Annabel, Bobby Brazier, Angela Scanlon and Krishnan Guru-Murthy joining already confirmed celebrities Angela Rippon, Layton Williams and bookies favourite to win the Glitterball trophy this year, Ellie Leach.
With Johannes having no part in the Strictly 2024 tour, much to the upset of Strictly fans who've already got tickets, former British tennis pro turned Wimbledon pundit Annabel will instead dance with Graziano Di Prima, who bowed out of the new series last month alongside ex Love Island star Zara McDermott. And Annabel isn't the only Strictly star who will have change of partner for the tour, with Krishnan not dancing with pro Lauren Oakley and instead being paired with last year's champion pro, Jowita Przystal.
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Clearly excited for the tour and getting to dance with Graziano, Annabel commented: "I’m used to interviewing people in front of very large crowds, but to dance in arenas for many thousands of people is going to be something else. Dancing every week on the TV show has been such a joy, so I can't wait for the magic of the tour and to experience it with my new tour partner, Graziano."
While at the start of the series, Annabel wasn't anywhere near the top of the betting when it came to Strictly winner, Annabel has defied the odds by making it into the top five, with many fans claiming that she is what the BBC show is all about, giving that she was a total non-dancer when she signed up earlier this year.
