Former British tennis star Annabel Croft once spent 10 days living on the streets of London for the BBC's Famous, Rich and Homeless docu-series in 2009. The 59-year-old, who will conduct interviews ahead of the men's and women's Wimbledon finals this weekend, traded her luxurious six-bedroom home for sleeping in shop doorways alongside other volunteers including Hardeep Singh Kohli, Rosie Boycott, Bruce Jones and the Marquis of Blandford.
Near-Death Experience on the Streets
In a Daily Mail column published the same year, Croft recalled a terrifying moment when she was nearly stabbed. She wrote: "Slowly, I made it to the Strand in time to make the food drop from a van provided by a charity called the Simon Community. When I got there, an old battleaxe of a woman demanded, 'What are you doing here?' I said I just wanted a cup of tea but she said I was unwelcome."
"She had spotted Fiona, my camerawoman, and clearly wanted to provoke a fight. I was still trying to get some tea when two Polish guys came at me from nowhere. Fiona and I were both protected - from a distance - by a security guard, Stuart Cleverley. Within moments he was by my side, grabbed me by the arm and whisked me away from my argument. Only when we were 30 yards clear did he tell me that one of the men had pulled out a knife and was inches away from stabbing me in the back."
Insights into Homelessness
The ordeal left Croft "scared witless," and she contemplated abandoning the documentary but resolved to continue. She encountered people from all walks of life, some of whom selflessly offered assistance. She said: "On so many occasions I have walked past homeless people and thought, 'Oh, for goodness sake, you are so young. Get up and go and get a job.' But no one will employ a person who has no address, who can't prove who they are. It's a vicious circle."
Croft's Tennis Career and Post-Show Work
Croft made an impression on Wimbledon's courts, reaching the third round in 1984 and finishing her career with a singles record of 49-68 and one WTA title. After the show, she delved deeper into the issue with her BBC Radio 5 Live show, James: My Alcoholic Friend, which focused on reconnecting with a rough sleeper she met during the documentary.
