Strictly Star Robin Windsor's Depression Deepened After BBC Axing, Inquest Hears
The professional Latin and Ballroom dancer Robin Windsor, who featured on four series of Strictly Come Dancing between 2010 and 2013, was found dead at the Hoxton hotel in Shepherd's Bush, west London, on February 19, 2024. A receptionist discovered his body after he failed to check out, with police later finding two suicide notes near him.
Heartbreaking Testimony from Best Friend Lisa Riley
At an inquest opened this week at West London Coroner's Court by HM assistant coroner Dr Anton van Dellen, jurors heard emotional statements from witnesses including Strictly and Emmerdale star Lisa Riley. In a statement read to the jury, Ms Riley revealed that Windsor's mental health deteriorated significantly after the BBC chose not to renew his contract in 2015.
'It was from this moment on to the time of his death, he kept slipping and slipping deeper into a depression,' Ms Riley said. 'His glow had gone.' She described how money troubles also played a major role, with Windsor 'drowning in debts' from buying designer clothes he could not afford.
The Impact of Losing His Strictly Role
In one of the suicide notes, addressed to a friend, Windsor laid bare how losing his job on Strictly 'destroyed me'. He wrote: '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.' He added that he now permanently lived in a 'dark place' and could not go on 'living like this anymore'.
A second note was to his ex, actor Ollie Augustin, whom he told: 'I need you to understand that this is not your fault!' A post-mortem examination ruled that he most likely died from a drugs and alcohol overdose.
Background Injury and Career Setbacks
Windsor had missed the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing while recovering from a back injury that required surgery to remove a disc. Ms Riley told the inquest that not being able to do what he loved had a 'very severe' psychological impact on him, and she described the show as a 'very lonely space with not much support'.
During his time on Strictly, Windsor partnered with Ms Riley in 2012, as well as with model Patsy Kensit, EastEnders legend Anita Dobson, and Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden. While he never won the Glitterball Trophy, he achieved seventh place with both Patsy Kensit and Anita Dobson.
Personal Struggles and Insecurities
Ms Riley detailed Windsor's personal struggles, including his battle with imposter syndrome, body image issues, and a craving for love. She revealed that he had confided in her about being molested by an old dance tutor and feeling that his parents never understood or came to his rescue.
'He took steroids for body shape, mixed with plenty of alcohol that put his headspace in a very dark space,' Ms Riley said. She added that he used party recreational drugs to cover his true feelings and that his relationships often left him in a 'really, really dark place'.
Career Highlights and Later Life
From the age of three, Windsor studied Latin and Ballroom, winning numerous World Championships at the highest level of competition. He joined the cast of the show Burn The Floor in 2001, touring the world for ten years with a nine-month run on Broadway. After Strictly, he appeared in Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands, also working as a motivational speaker.
Windsor was previously engaged to Davide Cini, proposing on a New York helicopter ride in 2013 before splitting years later, and he also dated X Factor singer Marcus Collins. Ms Riley described their close friendship, saying they were 'literally joined at the hip' after being paired in 2012, and she offered to pay for 'endless therapy' to help him.
A Tragic End
The inquest continues as the coroner investigates the full circumstances surrounding Windsor's death. Ms Riley's testimony paints a poignant picture of a talented performer whose mental health unraveled after professional setbacks and personal challenges, culminating in his tragic passing at the age of 44.
