Strictly star Robin Windsor stated being axed from the BBC present destroyed him in suicide be aware discovered close to his physique, inquest hears
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Robin Windsor said being axed from Strictly Come Dancing ‘destroyed’ him in a suicide note found after his death at the age of 44, an inquest has heard.
The beloved dancer was a professional on the programme between 2010 and 2013, but was dropped by the BBC in 2015 after he suffered a back injury.
Mr Windsor was found dead in a hotel room in London on February 19, 2024. His body was discovered by a receptionist after he failed to check out.
A post-mortem ruled that he most likely died from a drugs and alcohol overdose.
A jury inquest into his death was told yesterday that a police officer attending the scene found two notes near his body.
In the first, addressed to a friend, Mr Windsor wrote that this ‘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.’
Strictly star Robin Windsor said being axed from the BBC show destroyed him in a suicide note found after his death at the age of 44
Mr Windsor is pictured with TV presenter Susanna Reid on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2011
Robin Windsor is pictured with his ex-boyfriend, X Factor star Marcus Collins in March 2015
He added that he now permanently lives in a ‘dark place’ and that he can’t go on ‘living like this anymore’.
In a second note, to his ex Ollie Augustin, Mr Windsor, said according to The Sun that he wanted him to know that this was ‘not your fault’.
A jury inquest into the dancer’s death was opened this week at West London coroner’s court.
The hearing was told that Mr Windsor, who started dancing at the age of three, suffered a back injury in 2013 which required surgery.
He was forced to miss the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing while he recovered. But the following year, bosses at the BBC decided not to renew his contract.
His friend and co-star Kristina Rihanoff, 48, told the inquest yesterday that Mr Windsor was devastated when he was axed from the show.
She added that not being able to do what he loved had a ‘very severe’ psychological impact on him.
Louise Rainbow, a former executive producer on Strictly, told the hearing that the decision to drop Mr Windsor was due to bosses wanting to freshen up the line-up.
Robin Windsor’s last post on Instagram which was captioned ‘hiding in the shadows’
Robin Windsor and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden were partnered up on Strictly Come Dancing
Susanna Reid and Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor (second pair from right) are pictured on Strictly for Children In Need in 2011
She explained that three other stars were also axed and that while he was ‘very disappointed’, his reaction ‘wasn’t that different’ to other dancers and therefore did not cause her particular cause for concern.
Ms Rainbow added that the Sussex-born star accepted roles on the Strictly Christmas special and spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She said she met him in 2015 to discuss these offers and that she made no record of any concerns about Mr Windsor’s mental health being brought up.
She added that he was a ‘joy to work with’ and described him as a ‘lovely man’.
The inquest was told that Mr Windsor had suffered from mental health struggles since he was a boy.
Jurors also heard how he had been struggling to cope since the split from his actor boyfriend Mr Augustin.
He had been on suicide watch by the panto company that he was working for over Christmas 2023.
Mr Windsor studied Latin and Ballroom and his talent and commitment to his vocation took him to the highest level of competition where he won numerous World Championships.
He joined the cast of show Burn The Floor in 2001 and toured the world for 10 years, with a nine-month run on Broadway.
As well as Strictly, he appeared on Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands.
Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor perform a dance on a ‘Burn The Floor’ show in 2013
He also assisted in the choreography for the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance, as well as acting as a motivational speaker.
Mr Windsor’s representatives told the Daily Mail at the time of his death: ‘It is with deep sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of our beautiful Robin.
‘Robin’s dancing started from a very young age and never stopped. He lit up any room he walked into, he was a nurturing soul always full of fun.
‘Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor and many other dance shows along with all the school children around the country who he gave his time.
‘Robin was a strong advocate for mental health and worked closely with the “Sane Charity”.
‘The dance world has lost some of its sparkle today. We ask for the family’s privacy at this very difficult time.’
ITV’s Susanna Reid, who partnered with Mr Windsor on Strictly for Children in Need in 2011, also paid a heartbreaking tribute.
She said: ‘I fell in love with him and fell in love with dancing when I danced with him back then.
‘He was an absolutely remarkable dancer, strong so creative, he was just so enthusiastic about dancing. I just adored him.
‘He was the most incredible personality. As soon as I danced with him there was something really special about it.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
The inquest continues.
– For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
