Dancer Robin Windsor depressed after leaving Strictly, actress tells inquest

Warning: This story contains information some readers may find distressing.

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Robin Windsor slipped "deeper and deeper into endless depression" after leaving the show, actress Lisa Riley, a former dance partner, has told his inquest.

Windsor, who died at the age of 44 in February 2024, was among the BBC One show's professional competitors from 2010 to 2013.

He also appeared in the 2014 and 2015 Christmas specials but could not perform in the 2014 main series because of a back injury and was dropped for the 2015 series.

"It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into endless depression. His glow had gone," said Riley in a written witness statement that was read to West London Coroner's Court on Wednesday.

Money and relationship problems played big parts in his "darker days", Riley said.

The Emmerdale star recalled how the pair shared "many, many happy times to begin with and together we did have so much fun".

They were teamed up for the 2012 series, and reprised their partnership in the 2014 Christmas special.

"To say we hit it off was an understatement. We were literally joined at the hip," she said.

The actress added that she and Windsor built up an "incredible trust" and remained friends.

"He literally told me everything," she said. "I trusted him and he trusted me."

Riley said Windsor told her of times of "never feeling good enough" and "imposter syndrome", and that he was insecure about his body and took steroids which, combined with alcohol, would put him in a bad place.

One of Windsor's ex-boyfriends, singer and X Factor star Marcus Collins, said in his written statement that the dancer "deteriorated" in 2014.

"The day he was informed he was no longer required for Strictly really broke his spirit," Collins said, adding that Windsor had subsequently "struggled to balance his mental health and finances".

From 2016 to 2024, he noted, "his mental health was pretty compromised and relationships with friends and partners came and went".

Actor Terry Gleed, who appeared alongside Windsor in pantomime in 2023, told the court he felt his co-star was "obsessed" with Strictly and would often watch clips of the show.

"He was looking at his phone continuously, and I could feel he really wanted to be there... he missed it dearly," Gleed told jurors.

Choreographer Scott Coldwell, who worked with Windsor on a live show called Here Come The Boys, said the dancer told him several times that he was "desperate" to go back on Strictly.

Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, who was partnered with Windsor on Strictly in 2013, said he "always did his best to present a bright and sunny face".

"He always appeared positive and constructive," she said, "but during my time dancing with him he experienced relationship difficulties, breaking off an engagement and feeling alone. I saw him tearful and distracted at times."

But, Meaden added, other than his back pain, she "was unaware during our time dancing together of any greater issue".

Windsor, from Ipswich, also partnered Patsy Kensit and Anita Dobson in the main show, and Sara Cox and Alison Hammond in Christmas specials.

Earlier this week, the coroner's court heard that Windsor had left a note saying his problems started when he lost his job on Strictly, and referenced struggles with loneliness and relationships, among the triggers for his troubles.

Former Strictly executive producer Louise Rainbow told the inquest that three dancers, including Windsor, were dropped ahead of the 2015 series because bosses wanted to refresh up the line-up, according to the Sun.

She said he was "very disappointed" and "understandably upset" when she broke the news, but that his reaction "wasn't that different" to the other dancers, and that she has no record of his mental state being brought up in a meeting with him and his agent, the paper reported.

She described him as "a joy to work with" and a "lovely man".

The inquest into his death will continue this week.

The BBC has been asked for comment.

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