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A dancer who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and performed alongside future Strictly professionals took her own life three days after she was arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence, an inquest has heard.
Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who reached the semi-final of the ITV show in 2014 as part of the dance group Kings and Queens, was found dead at her home in Farnborough, Hampshire, on June 7, 2023.
Tributes quickly poured in for the 38-year-old, with Strictly professionals sharing their heartache.
An inquest into her death today heard how Ms Donaldson had been arrested on June 4 and questioned at a police station about a ‘sexual’ offence, which she denied.
After she was released, she failed to return home, leading her family to report her as a missing person before she was found at a Travelodge hotel in Woking, Surrey.
Her sister, Cara Donaldson, told the hearing that when she arrived there, Ms Donaldson was being taken to hospital in an ambulance having taken an overdose.
Ms Donaldson was discharged and returned home with her sister Cara on June 6, during which she revealed she had wanted to take her own life.
Her sister said that Ms Donaldson was ’emotional, crying, every time I brought up certain things’, particularly the allegations which had been made against her.
Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who reached the semi-final of the ITV show in 2014 as part of the dance group Kings and Queens, was found dead at her home in Farnborough in June 2023
Britain’s Got Talent star Ms Donaldson took her own life three days after she was arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence
The young star died in June 2023 in her home town of Farnborough, Hampshire
Ms Donaldson (front row, second left) performed on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 as part of the group Kings and Queens
Coroner Jason Pegg asked whether she ‘[indicated] they were a sexual offence?’, and she responded ‘Yeah, she told me exactly what they were’.
They spent the evening together and Ms Donaldson assured her sister she was ‘not going to do’ anything after she left. The sisters continued messaging each other until about midnight on June 7.
Cara said: ‘I think one of the last messages she said “Thanks for everything today”, and put a red heart emoji.’
Tragically, when Cara visited her the next morning, she discovered her sister had died.
Ms Donaldson performed on the ITV talent show in 2014 as part of the super-group Kings and Queens.
Other members of the troupe included Kai Widdrington and Neil and Katya Jones, all three of whom later became professional dancers on Strictly.
Paying tribute at the time of her death, Strictly professional Mr Jones said Ms Donaldson was ‘like a big sister’.
He wrote on X: ‘Kerri Anne Donaldson- remember that name and please never forget it because it belongs to a woman who loved to dance, create and perform, she had the cheekiest laugh and a heart of gold, she hated getting in the car with me, but would always listen to my crazy ideas, we shared so many moments and stories and she was always the voice of reason. Kerri you were my friend and like my big sister.’
The dancer worked alongside many of Strictly’s biggest stars including Kevin Clifton who she performed with
Following her tragic death, Kevin shared a photo of himself with Ms Donaldson as he paid tribute to ‘the loveliest girl’
Kevin Clifton also shared his upset, writing: ‘Absolutely heartbroken. I’ve known Kerri since we were kids and she was always the loveliest girl.
‘A friend and a dance partner. I’m glad we got to dance together this xmas. And that the whole cast of Strictly Ballroom got to work with you in rehearsals. RIP’
The inquest comes just days after a different inquest found Strictly star Robin Windsor took his own life in hotel room after suffering years of depression.
At the time, he left a suicide note saying the BBC ‘destroyed me’ after he was dropped from the show was ‘vulnerable to rejection both emotionally and professionally’.
Today’s inquest into Ms Donaldson’s death was told that a post-mortem examination gave a cause of death of hanging and it also found that she had non-fatal levels of medication in her blood which were consistent with an overdose.
Cara said her sister had told an emergency doctor at St Peter’s Hospital in north Surrey that she had wanted to kill herself and added: ‘I just wanted to hug her.’
She added that when she drove her sister home on June 6, she had told her that she had made the decision to take her own life when she had left the police station.
She said they had not been given any care plan or advice on how to assist her sister when they left the hospital.
Cara said that she spent the evening with her sister and was reluctant to leave her alone, saying: ‘If you do anything, Kerri, that will always be on my shoulders.’
She added: ‘She joked ‘I am not going to do that’, so I left. One of the last messages was ‘Thanks for everything today’ and she gave a heart emoji, I just thought she was OK.’
Cara said when her sister did not answer the phone the next morning, she went round to her home and found a note at the top of the stairs which said: ‘Call 999, do not come in. I am sorry.’
Cara did what the note told her to, and her sister was declared dead that day.
A lawyer representing the family previously said they had questions over the processes and procedures at the hospital Ms Donaldson attended before her death.
The inquest heard that the song ‘You are so beautiful’ was playing on repeat when Ms Donaldson was found.
A folded-up photograph of her dog was also found with the writing: ‘If only you knew how many times you had saved me.’
A number of photo books and canvases of family members were also found including a photo of Ms Donaldson with Cara with the words ‘I am so sorry’.
A photograph of their parents also had the words on it: ‘I am so sorry, I made the mistake of trust, I wish I could start again.’
Cara said she had asked her sister about the allegation and her sister had told her that she was not guilty and that it had ‘all been constructed’.
Describing her sister, she said: ‘Heart of gold, full of fun, brought happiness to life, especially mine, career-driven, adored her family, adored her friends, fantastic dance teacher, everyone loved her.’
She said her sister had been on television a few times and added: ‘Her main passion was to choreograph dancing.’
Cara also said that her sister had previously spoken about the ‘struggle making sure I can get the money in’ from her job running a dance studio but she said that these were the ‘usual worries’.
She said that Ms Donaldson had told her that she wanted a ‘big house and car’ and added: ‘She just wanted to be rich and famous.’
The hearing continues.
For help and support, call Samaritans on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org