The remaining weeks of Strictly star Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor

Heartbreaking particulars emerged right now about Strictly Come Dancing star Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor’s remaining weeks earlier than his shock dying aged simply 44.

The skilled Latin and Ballroom dancer carried out on an opulent cruise and met up together with his former Strictly companion Deborah Meaden’s mom in South Africa as he spent his remaining days bringing pleasure to others – at the same time as he instructed his followers that he was ‘hiding within the shadows’ and hinted at ‘trauma’ in a collection of haunting social media posts weeks earlier than he handed away.

Dragons’ Den star Deborah instructed followers in regards to the social meet up in a submit on X in late January, writing: ‘Don’t you simply adore it!’ 

Meanwhile, a fan revealed how she got here throughout Robin throughout a cha cha class, the place he had agreed to bounce along with her as a result of she didn’t have a companion. ‘A gentleman – sending like to his family and friends,’ she wrote in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

Despite this, Robin instructed his followers on January 14: ‘Remember, when one thing goes fallacious within the circus, they ship within the clowns to distract the viewers. Well, one thing has gone very fallacious with this circus and the clowns are in all places.’ 

It comes after Robin beforehand opened up about his struggles with despair on Strictly. In 2018, he revealed: ‘We all have darkish days however I used to be having darkish weeks. I might find yourself not getting away from bed for 4 or fives days at a time, so far as everybody was involved I used to be ‘joyful Robin’ – besides to the folks I lived with.’

He additionally opened up about how was left struggling to get away from bed after his relationship together with his fiancé Davide Cine ended, he misplaced his job on Strictly and he needed to pay a £100,000 tax invoice – as his world got here crashing down all on the identical time. 

Robin, who stated he had battled with despair from the age of 19, would later get right into a relationship with, X Factor star Marcus Collins – however their 18-month romance resulted in 2015.

He stated: ‘I used to be nonetheless on Strictly on the time it began – it was actually unhealthy. Numerous issues occurred on the identical time, fairly unhealthy issues, which set it in movement. My harm, a monetary state of affairs, my engagement [to Davide] had ended and I misplaced my job on Strictly all on the identical time so it took its toll.’

Robin additionally revealed how he struggled to observe Strictly after he was axed by bosses in 2014 following a ‘horrible again operation’. He beforehand stated: ‘Leaving Strictly wasn’t my alternative. I had a horrible again operation and so they determined that they did not need to ask me again the subsequent 12 months.

‘It was most likely for well being and security causes, in case one thing occurred, however I used to be bodily match. One of my finest mates Trent Whiddon, who changed me to bounce with Pixie Lott, I needed to observe and help him, but it surely broke my coronary heart.’

‘I used to be with Marcus Collins from the X Factor, who was my companion on the time, and stated to him, ‘I’m actually struggling to observe the present.’

‘He instructed me the perfect factor to do was to essentially get behind and help everyone. He stated it was laborious for him to observe the success of Little Mix, who beat him on X Factor.’

It comes after MailOnline revealed how Robin had instructed his followers that he was ‘hiding within the shadows’ and hinted at ‘trauma’ in a collection of social media posts weeks earlier than his shock dying. 

The ‘extraordinarily proficient’ dancer spent final month entertaining holidaymakers by acting on a Fred Olsen Cruise and posted smiling selfies when the boat docked in South Africa. 

But he additionally hinted he was coping with ‘trauma’ and thanked his family and friends for his or her help in a string of posts earlier than his dying.

On January 27, Robin posed in entrance of a marina with Cape Town’s Table Mountain within the background with the caption: ‘This place is the distraction of all distractions!’

He regarded joyful as he took photos of elephants on safari and relaxed in a lodge overlooking the gorgeous Leopard Mountain recreation reserve. The dancer had additionally loved a one-night cease in Mozambique and was seen stress-free on the seashore and posing with a Lemur in Madagascar within the days prior.

But Robin’s final submit on Instagram, which was shared to his 46,000 followers on January 28, was a extra muted selfie within the near-dark with the caption: ‘Hiding within the shadows.’ 

Seven days earlier, the dancer had reposted a quote which stated: ‘Trauma teaches you to count on and settle for the naked minimal. In this new season, might you alter your requirements and be taught to obtain the utmost. You are worthy. You are sufficient. You deserve overflow.’

And on January 4, he had shared a message together with his mates and followers which stated: ‘Big shout out and like to everybody who’s reached out and checked within the final week. Sorry I’ve not replied… it has been a little bit of a making an attempt time and issues are trying up. Robin.’

Tributes have poured in beneath the star’s tragic final selfie, with one fan writing: ‘So shocked and saddened to listen to the information. Have adopted him for years since Strictly, a tremendous expertise. RIP.’

His psychological well being turned so unhealthy that he could not get away from bed and he admitted that he thought-about taking his personal life till he was talked out of it. It was at this level he began in search of assist – principally from psychological well being charity Sane.

Another added: ‘So unhappy & shocked. Just a few weeks in the past I used to be dancing in his arms for 90mins as I did not have a companion in a cha cha cha class. A gentleman. A mild man. A magical day for me. Sending like to his family and friends RIP.’

A 3rd posted: ‘No longer within the shadows however within the gentle.’ A fourth additionally stated: ‘This was not the information I needed to get up to this morning. Rip Robin.’

Robin had flown out to hitch the cruise within the Indian Ocean firstly of January. He visited Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa whereas dancing for visitors. While in Madagascar, he regarded joyful and took half in a conventional dance with locals.

The dancer additionally stayed at a five-star safari lodge known as Leopard Mountain the place he noticed elephants, giraffes, warthogs and lions. Robin then went on to go to East London and Cape Town, which he described as ‘superb’.

At the top of final month, he posted a video of him and his companion Gordana Grandosek Whiddon dancing with the caption: ‘The present should go on’. 

Ms Whiddon, who additionally carried out on Strictly, paid tribute right now by sharing a video of the dance, alongside the caption, ‘I like you Bobby’ with a coronary heart and a damaged hearted emoji.

Robin partnered with mannequin Patsy Kensit, EastEnders legend Anita Dobson, Loose Woman Lisa Riley and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden throughout his stint on Strictly. The Suffolk-born star additionally carried out with This Morning host Alison Hammond within the 2015 Christmas Special.

A heartbroken Susanna Reid, who partnered with Robin on Strictly for Children in Need in 2011, fought again tears on right now’s Good Morning Britain after studying of the dancer’s dying.

After co-host Ed Balls introduced the tragic information on Good Morning Britain, Reid instructed viewers: ‘He was a fully outstanding dancer, sturdy so inventive, he was simply so passionate about dancing. I simply adored him. ‘He was essentially the most unbelievable character. As quickly as I danced with him there was one thing actually particular about it.’ 

Former Strictly dancer James Jordan additionally paid tribute, posting: ‘I had the pleasure of working with this man for a few years on Strictly. 

‘Everyone who got here involved with him adored him, from his superstar companions to his working colleagues. You can be missed outdated good friend.’

Long-time Strictly decide Craig Revel Horwood remembered Robin as ‘one of many kindest, mild, trustworthy, humorous and caring folks I’ve had the pleasure of understanding and dealing with’.

He added that the dancer could be ‘endlessly missed’ as he despatched his help to Robin’s household and mates.

Robin was an unique member of dance present Burn The Floor, who introduced the star’s shock dying on their official web site.

Their assertion learn: ‘Burn the Floor household has misplaced one in all its founding members, Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor – who has tragically handed away.

‘A BTF journeyman he danced with us for twenty years – together with Broadway, The West End and all our loopy adventures around the globe.

‘His gorgeous picture connected with Jessica Raffa outlined our firm, vibrant, excessive and sensual.

‘His expertise, perspective, power and character helped create the Burn the Floor stage status. He leaves a void in our hearts that can by no means be crammed, but our great reminiscences will keep endlessly’. 

From the age of three, Robin studied Latin and Ballroom and his expertise and dedication to his vocation took him to the very best degree of competitors the place he received quite a few World Championships.

He joined the forged of present Burn The Floor in 2001 and toured the world for 10 years, with a nine-month run on Broadway.

He bought his TV break on Strictly in 2010 however was pressured to drag out of the collection in 2014 as a consequence of a slipped disc which left him paralysed for 4 days. While he by no means received the Glitterball Trophy, he got here seventh with Patsy Kensit and Anita Dobson.

Robin additionally appeared in Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance within the Netherlands and assisted within the choreography for the Australian model of So You Think You Can Dance, in addition to performing as a motivational speaker. 

His representatives instructed MailOnline: ‘It is with deep sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of our lovely Robin.

‘Robin’s dancing began from a really younger age and by no means stopped. He lit up any room he walked into, he was a nurturing soul at all times filled with enjoyable.

‘Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor and lots of different dance reveals together with all the college kids across the nation who he gave his time.

‘Robin was a robust advocate for psychological well being and labored intently with the ‘Sane Charity’. The dance world has misplaced a few of its sparkle right now. We ask for the household’s privateness at this very troublesome time.’ 

Founder of Burn the Floor and good friend of Robin, Harley Medcalf, stated: ‘We have misplaced a wonderful good friend, Robin Windsor, Bobby, one of many founding members of the Burn the Floor household.

‘Robin has handed away in England. A beneficiant, extraordinarily proficient dancer, filled with power, life and love.

‘His stage presence outlined the Burn the Floor firm. Whenever we visited London, Robin was at all times the primary to name, at all times there to help, have a good time, snigger and cry collectively.

‘In the photograph connected a extremely emotional Robin was simply off stage after his final efficiency with Burn The Floor Reunion Tour in Birmingham in 2022.’

‘Our hearts are damaged he can be significantly missed by all his mates, household and followers around the globe.’

Performance arts theatre Burn The Floor, the place Robin danced for 20 years and was a founding member, stated there’s a ‘void’ of their coronary heart for the reason that tragic passing.

Fellow dancer Giselle Rojas Peacock wrote: ‘I used to be shocked to search out out right now we misplaced one other Dancer and Friend Robin Jamie Windsor.

‘This one hits dwelling as we had so a few years dancing performing and touring collectively everywhere in the world in Burn the Floor.

‘One of the unique members and poster boy of Burn, Bobby was so beloved by everybody, the sweetest human. Just like a large teddy bear.

‘You gentle up the stage with such an power and it was at all times a pleasure to bounce with you.

‘We had so many laughs, tears, highs and lows collectively and despite the fact that life took us in separate instructions and the lord has taken you to quickly, I feel all us will cherish so many reminiscences with you in them.

‘RIP my good good friend. My coronary heart breaks right now for all who beloved you. And there have been many.’

Strictly choreographer Patrick Helm stated Robin was unaware of how a lot he meant to folks.

He wrote: ‘I do not even know the right way to discover the phrases to this submit. I’ll dearly miss you Robin Windsor.

‘This one is hitting me laborious and too near dwelling.

‘My deepest condolences go to your loved ones and everybody who knew you! You had been one other one who was beloved by so many however could not see it himself.

‘May you lastly be free and discover piece. RIP Bobby.’

Robin was beforehand engaged to ex-partner Davide Cini and proposed on a romantic New York helicopter trip in 2013 earlier than splitting years later.

He additionally beforehand dated Marcus Collins, the singer who featured on The X Factor in 2011. 

In an announcement saying his dying, Sisco Entertainment stated: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of our beloved good friend, Robin Windsor.

‘Robin’s presence in Come What May was greater than only a efficiency; it was an embodiment of ardour, grace, and sheer expertise.

‘His extraordinary means to specific emotion by motion captivated audiences, leaving them spellbound with each step.

‘Beyond his impeccable dancing, Robin’s vibrant spirit lit up the room, infusing rehearsals and performances with infectious power and heat.

‘His laughter was contagious, his kindness boundless.

‘His friendship was a present cherished by all who had the privilege of understanding him.

‘Robin, you may be deeply missed.

‘Though Come What May will proceed with out you, your legacy will reside on within the hearts of all who had been lucky sufficient to share in your gentle.’