FRIENDS and fans of Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor last night said they were struggling to come to terms with his shock death aged just 44.
The dance pro told how he struggled with depression and disappointment after being kicked off the show ten years ago after an injury.
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Robin and Susanna Reid on the Strictly Come Dancing special for Children in NeedCredit: PA
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Last photo shared by Robin on his Instagram Credit: Instagram
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Last photo shared online Robin on Cruiser Credit: Instagram
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Robin with Marcus Collins in London 2015 Credit: Rex
In an interview last year, he said: “I was always perceived as a happy person, always with a big smile on my face.
“Now I realize that sometimes those with the biggest smiles can hide the biggest pain.”
In his latest Instagram post last month, he shared a creepy picture of himself with the message “hiding in the shadows.”
The news of his death was announced yesterday on the Facebook page of his dance group Burn the Floor.
Last night a number of Strictly stars paid heartfelt tributes to their friend.
He appeared on the BBC1 show from 2010 to 2013, partnering Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden.
He danced with Susanna Reid in the Children in Need special, and with Alison Hammond in the Christmas show in 2015.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood wrote: “He was one of the kindest, gentlest, fairest, funniest and most caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and working with.
“We will miss him forever.
“My heart goes out to all his family and friends.
“RIP dear man, you were truly loved.”
Emmerdale actress Lisa, paired with Robin in 2012, said: “My best, my Robin, my angel, now our forever angel, who is loved, will always be loved, forever in my heart, my very broken heart.
“I love you, shine with your beautiful, electric energy from heaven.”
Fellow dancer James Jordan said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with this man for many years on Strictly.
Strictly’s Brendan Cole fights back tears on GMB as he pays emotional tribute to Robin Windsor following his tragic death aged 44
“Everyone who came in contact with him adored him, from his famous partners to his work colleagues.
“You will be missed old friend.”
Kristina Rihanoff said she was: “blown away by his kindness, carefree personality and incredible loyalty.”
She added: “He always found a way to lift my spirits.
“However, his own spirit was destroyed when he was booted from Strictly and that’s where I started to see changes in his personality, depression and broken confidence.
“While we continued to do many shows, tours, shows and performances together, he increasingly struggled with work instability and a sore back from an injury he sustained.”
Robin, from Ipswich, never returned to the limelight he enjoyed while dancing with the celebs on Strictly.
He said: “I got a phone call saying ‘Thank you for all your hard work on the show.
“We won’t need you anymore”.
“And that’s all I got.
“That hurt more than anything.
“It was heartbreaking.
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Robin and Patsy Kensit hit the dance floor in 2010. Credit: BBC
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Robin and Deborah Meaden 2013 Credit: Rex
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Robin with Anita Dobson in 2011. Credit: Getty
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Robin with Lisa Riley 2012. Credit: Handbook
“Being on Strictly was the best job in the world.
“I think I loved being on that show more than any other person that was there.”
Robin revealed that a serious injury in 2013 meant he missed the next year’s show.
Speaking to the My Time Capsule Podcast in 2022, he said: “We tried some lifts and stuff at the after party.
“I fell in Blackpool and landed on the marble floor, popped one of my discs in my back and spiraled downwards.
“It was the worst thing ever.
“It was really, really hard to watch the show go on without you, but in my mind I was like, ‘You know, they’re going to bring me back next year, of course they will, they’ll have to.'”
He added: “That’s the nature of television.
“One minute you’re in, the next you’re out.
“It happens so often.
“Every time the producers think it’s time for a change, someone has to go.”
Being on Strictly was the best job in the world. I think I loved being on that show more than any other person that was there
Robin Windsor
But he always found it hard to let go, saying: “I’ll always be part of that Strictly family – no matter who you are or what you do on the show, you’re always part of it.”
Robin was in a relationship with X-Factor finalist Marcus Collins from 2013 to 2015.
They had earlier passed each other in the corridor at ITV and after Robin appeared on the cover of a magazine, singer Marcus called and said: “You look really good.”
The romance came about after Robin’s former dance partner Deborah Meaden gave him some advice.
He revealed: “She told me to pull myself together, concentrate on work, forget about men and enjoy life.
“As soon as I did, Marcus came over.”
Yesterday, the BBC released a tribute to Robin, saying: “The entire Strictly Come Dancing family is deeply saddened to hear the news of our dear friend Robin Windsor.
“He was not only an extremely talented dancer and choreographer, but also a caring, considerate and kind person, both on and off the dance floor.
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Robin was an ambassador for mental health charity SaneCredit: sane.org
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Robin shared a selfie from Cape Town on his Insta on January 28 while sailing around AfricaCredit: instagram
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Robin filmed performance on a cruise ship last month Credit: Instagram
Inside Strictly star’s harrowing health battle
ROBIN Windsor was forced to quit Strictly or “risk ending up in a wheelchair”, it has emerged.
The 44-year-old BBC star had previously spoken about her exit from the show, before her tragic death.
Robin quit Strictly in 2014, claiming he was sacked by bosses after “terrible back surgery”.
Speaking at the time, he said: “Leaving Strictly was not my choice.
“I had terrible back surgery and they decided they didn’t want to ask me back next year.
– It was probably for health and safety reasons, if something happened, but I was physically ready.
Speaking about when the horrific injury happened, Robin explained that he had “a herniated disc [his] back,” adding that “the nerve was exposed, causing excruciating pains that shot downward [his] foot”.
He said: “I was paralyzed on the floor of a friend’s house because the pain was so bad. I was there for three or four days.
»I couldn’t risk going forward. It was a heartbreaking decision, but I had no choice.
“If my disc had popped out while I was dancing, I could have ended up with permanent nerve damage and been in a wheelchair.”
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Robin and Lisa Riley during dress rehearsals for StrictlyCredit: Brochure
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Dancers received tributes Credit: Instagram
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The ship MS Bolette, where Robin performed in January Credit: Getty
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