The death of a former Strictly Coming Dancing professional Robin Windsor has been ruled suicide by an inquest into his death.
Windsor was found dead in the Hoxton Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush, London, on the 19th of February 2024. The professional dancer had a blood alcohol level over twice the drink-drive limit and had taken the drug GBL.
The 10-person Jury determined that Windsor had “completed suicide”, concluding that the probable causes were “an accumulation of many attributes to depression”.
“Windsor suffered from childhood trauma, he was vulnerable to rejection, both emotionally and professionally.” the jury forewoman told the court. The jury also agreed that “loneliness, the lack of emotional maturity, the pressure of mounting debts, the lack of consistent mental health care and support and recurring heartache” were “contributing factors” to Windsor’s decision to end his life.
In a note to a close friend left before his death, Windsor said “This all actually really started when I lost my place on Strictly and I have been fighting it ever since.”
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“I had a good run, I’ve done some incredible things in my 44 years and had an unreal life doing what I loved, but all things must come to an end and my curtain has come down for the final time.”
A separate note to ex, Ollie Augstin, who Windsor had broken up with the year prior, read “I need you to understand, this is not your fault!”
The Latin and ballroom dancer joined Strictly in 2010 and danced with actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Lisa Riley, and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden in four series until 2013. He could not perform in the 2014 series because of a back injury and was dropped in 2015, but still appeared in the Christmas special that year, dancing alongside TV presenter Alison Hammond.
On reaching the verdict, Coroner van Dellen told Mr Windsor’s family member who was in court: “I hope the family can take some comfort from the joy Robin brought to so many people and the positive effect he had on so many people.” Adding, “That’s a wonderful legacy for Robin to leave.”
Jurors were asked by van Dellen to determine how Windsor came about his death. “You will need to consider the extent to which matters or events probably more than minimally contributed to Robin’s mental health deterioration, which in turn led him to take his own life.” van Dellen explained.
During the inquest, heartbreaking testimonies were heard from Windsor’s friends and colleagues, including Strictly partners Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden and fellow ex Strictly professional Kristina Rihanoff.
In a statement read at the hearing on Wednesday, Emmerdale star Riley said that Windsor’s “glow had gone” after he was dropped from Strictly.
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“It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into endless depression,” she said. The soap star said that she and Windsor had a very close relationship that continued on after their time on the 10th series of Strictly had finished.
“To say we hit it off was an understatement. We were joined at the hip. Robin was my rock, my best friend.”
She also told the jury that Windsor had “told me of the horrific time where he was molested by his old dance tutor and felt his parents never really understood this, nor did they come to his rescue”
In another statement, Businesswoman and Dragon’s Den star, Meaden, said that while Windsor “always did his best to present a bright and sunny face”, she had seen her dance partner “tearful and distracted at times.”
*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
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