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Annabel Croft

Michael Berkeley's guest is former tennis player Annabel Croft, who was the British number one at the age of 18, but then retired from the sport aged 21 and became a broadcaster.

Annabel Croft first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of nine. Within six years, she’d become the youngest British player to compete in the Wimbledon main draw for almost a century. At the age of 17, she won the junior championships at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, and at 18 she was the British number one. Then – aged 21 – she retired from tennis and moved into broadcasting. She was soon back at the world’s major tennis tournaments, this time as a commentator and reporter. In 2023 her competitive spirit found a new outlet: she took part in Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One and came fourth. Her musical choices include works by Pachelbel, Handel, John Rutter and Prokofiev.

Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker

Available now

56 minutes

Last on

Sun 2 Nov 202512:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Dance of the Knights (Romeo and Juliet Op.64)

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • Romeo and Juliet Ballet Op. 64.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 13.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon)

    Performer: Marco Cera. Performer: Emiliano Rodolfi. Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Musica Barocca.
    • Teldec.
    • 19.

  • Erik Satie

    Gymnopédie No 1 in D major

    Performer: Anne Queffélec.
    • Satie & Compagnie - Pieces Pour Piano :Anne Queffelec.
    • Mirare.
    • 3.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.6 in F major "Pastoral" (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: Robert Treviño.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (Live).
    • Ondine.
    • 301.

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Canon in D major

    Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Conductor: Bernard Labadie.
    • Fratres: Les Violons du Roy - 30 ans.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 3.

  • John Rutter

    The Lord Bless You And Keep You

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • John Rutter: The Ultimate Collection.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 5.

  • Pascual Marquina

    España Cañi

    Orchestra: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Erich Kunzel.
    • Fiesta!.
    • Telarc.
    • 4.

  • Ennio Morricone

    Gabriel's Oboe (The Mission)

    Conductor: Ennio Morricone.
    • The Mission: Music From The Motion Picture.
    • EMI Marketing.
    • 3.

  • Sebastian Temple

    Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

    Performer: Martin Baker. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: Martin Neary.
    • British Classical Music Masterpieces.
    • Menuetto Classics.
    • 43.

Broadcast

  • Sun 2 Nov 202512:00
    BBC Radio 3

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