Strictly Star's Suicide Note Reveals Axing 'Destroyed' Him, Inquest Hears
The tragic death of beloved Strictly Come Dancing professional Robin Windsor has taken a heartbreaking turn, as an inquest heard that a suicide note found near his body revealed being axed from the BBC show "destroyed" him. Mr Windsor, 44, was discovered dead in a London hotel room on February 19, 2024, after failing to check out, with a post-mortem indicating he most likely died from a drugs and alcohol overdose.
Notes Reveal Profound Despair Over Strictly Departure
Police attending the scene found two notes near his body. In the first, addressed to a friend, Mr Windsor wrote that his struggles "all really started when I lost my job on Strictly." He added, "The way they treated me destroyed me… It started me on the road I'm still on. All I wanted from life was to be happy. I loved my job more than anyone else." The dancer described permanently living in a "dark place" and stated he could not continue "living like this anymore."
A second note, to his ex-boyfriend Ollie Augustin, sought to absolve him of blame, saying this was "not your fault." The inquest at West London Coroner's Court heard that Mr Windsor had suffered from mental health issues since childhood, with recent struggles exacerbated by his split from Mr Augustin. He had even been on suicide watch by the pantomime company he worked for over Christmas 2023.
Career Setback Following Back Injury
Mr Windsor, who began dancing at age three and rose to win numerous World Championships, joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional in 2010. However, a back injury in 2013 required surgery, forcing him to miss the 2014 series. In 2015, BBC bosses decided not to renew his contract as part of a lineup refresh, axing him along with three other dancers.
His friend and co-star Kristina Rihanoff told the inquest that Mr Windsor was "devastated" by the axing, and that losing his passion had a "very severe" psychological impact. Former Strictly executive producer Louise Rainbow explained the decision was due to wanting to "freshen up" the show, noting that while he was "very disappointed," his reaction was similar to others and did not raise specific concerns. She described him as a "joy to work with" and a "lovely man," adding that he accepted roles on Strictly Christmas specials and spin-off show It Takes Two.
Legacy of a Talented Performer
Beyond Strictly, Mr Windsor had an illustrious career, touring globally with Burn The Floor for a decade, including a nine-month Broadway run, and appearing on shows like Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands. He also worked as a choreographer and motivational speaker, and was a strong advocate for mental health, collaborating with the Sane Charity.
Tributes poured in after his death, with ITV's Susanna Reid, who partnered with him in 2011, saying, "I fell in love with him and fell in love with dancing… He was an absolutely remarkable dancer, strong, so creative, just so enthusiastic about dancing. I just adored him." His representatives remembered him as a "nurturing soul always full of fun" who "lit up any room."
The inquest continues, shedding light on the profound impact of career setbacks on mental health in the high-pressure world of entertainment.
