Annabel Croft, 59, announces the birth of her first granddaughter
Annabel Croft is 'bursting with pride' after welcoming her first granddaughter – three years after the heartbreaking death of her husband, Mel Coleman.
The BBC Wimbledon commentator and former Strictly star, 59, has become a grandmother for the second time in eight months after only son Charlie Coleman, 29, and his wife, Boodles jewellery scion Honour Wainwright, 30, welcomed their first child earlier this month.
The couple confirmed the happy news to the Daily Mail, revealing they have named their daughter Cosima Elizabeth Annabel Coleman in a touching tribute to each of their mothers.
The arrival of their daughter, who was born on June 4, comes just over three years after Annabel suffered the devastating loss of her husband Mel, who died of sepsis aged 60 in May 2023 while battling stage-four colon cancer.
Sharing exclusive access to private pictures on Instagram with the Daily Mail, Honour revealed: 'Cosima is named after both her amazing grannies.' Honour's mother goes by Annie, while her real name is Elizabeth.
Annabel Croft is 'bursting with pride' after welcoming her first granddaughter – three years after the heartbreaking death of her husband, Mel Coleman (Annabel pictured with her son-in-law Honour's mother)
The BBC Wimbledon commentator and former Strictly star, 59, has become a grandmother for the second time in eight months after only son Charlie Coleman, 29, and his wife, Boodles jewellery scion Honour Wainwright, 30, welcomed their first child earlier this month
One of the photos shows a beaming Annabel cradling her new granddaughter alongside Honour's mum, while another captures the proud new parents at home with their baby girl.
'Annabel is bursting with pride,' a friend of the former tennis star told the Daily Mail. 'She has been counting down the days to meet her new grandchild. This is such a special time for the family.'
Charlie and Honour, who married last August, announced they were expecting in February, when Honour shared a photo on social media of her growing bump from their honeymoon at a luxury safari lodge in South Africa.
Honour works as a marketing director at her family's heritage jewellery house, Boodles, while Charlie works in finance.
Before their Hampshire wedding last year, Honour said she and her mother wanted the celebration to be 'more Kate Moss than Kate Middleton' – and the big day delivered.
Annabel arrived in a glamorous floral gown with a feather-adorned fascinator, and the couple rode in a vintage Land Rover with tennis rackets trailing from the back - a charming nod to the groom's mother.
The reception at Honour's family home in Hampshire featured dinner under an ivy-strewn pavilion. Charlie performed his wedding dance to You're the One that I Want from Grease, while Annabel was spotted crowd surfing with her new daughter-in-law.
The birth of Cosima means that Annabel - who styles herself proudly as 'Grannabel' - has become a grandmother for the second time in less than a year.
The couple confirmed the happy news to the Daily Mail, revealing they have named their daughter Cosima Elizabeth Annabel Coleman in a touching tribute to each of their mothers
Last October, her eldest daughter Amber Rose, 32, gave birth to a baby boy, Arlo William Melvyn Llewellyn, with her financier husband Hector Llewellyn.
In another sweet tribute, they gave him the middle name Melvyn after Amber's late father.
Annabel and Mel met in 1987, when he taught her to sail for a television programme, and married in 1993. The couple, who lived in Coombe, near Wimbledon, went on to have three children together - Amber Rose, Lily and Charlie.
Their lives were turned upside down when Mel, a former America's Cup and Admiral's Cup yachtsman, died just eight weeks after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and two months shy of the couple's 30th wedding anniversary.
Annabel and Mel met in 1987, when he taught her to sail for a television programme, and married in 1993 (the couple pictured in 2021)
Months after Mel's death, Annabel took part in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the semi-finals with her dance partner Johannes Radebe. She has credited the show with helping her through her darkest days.
'It has given me a reason to be able to get up in the morning and have purpose rather than just sobbing at home,' she said at the time.
The former British number one reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1984 before retiring from the sport aged just 21.
She has since become one of the most familiar voices in tennis broadcasting, commentating on all four Grand Slams and a fixture of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage every summer.
Amid the heartbreak, the family has had plenty to celebrate in recent months. Last September, Annabel's younger daughter, sports TV presenter Lily, 28, got engaged to investment director Felix McCorquodale, who is related to Princess Diana's late stepmother, Raine Spencer.
Annabel called the engagement 'the most wonderful news', saying she was delighted to see her children 'with the most wonderful partners'.
Reflecting on life since losing Mel, Annabel has said she tries to remain hopeful. 'When a door opens, go and explore,' she said. 'At my age, and with everything that's happened, I'm not afraid to fail.'
Months after Mel's death, Annabel took part in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the semi-finals with her dance partner Johannes Radebe. She has credited the show with helping her through her darkest days
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
