Key Highlights
- Robin Windsor left a suicide note citing being axed from Strictly Come Dancing as the reason for his depression.
- The inquest into his death revealed the psychological impact of leaving the show was severe.
- Former colleagues and partners testified about Windsor’s struggle with mental health post-Strictly.
The Dark Road: Robin Windsor’s Tragic Fall from Stardom
Robin Windsor, a former star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, took his own life in 2024 after being axed from the show. The inquest into his death has revealed the devastating impact the cancellation had on him.
The Axing and Its Impact
Windsor was cut from the show following a back injury that left him unable to participate in subsequent seasons. In 2015, he penned a suicide note stating: “This all really started when I lost my job on Strictly and have been fighting it ever since.” He added, “The way they treated me destroyed me… It started me on the road I’m still on.”
Colleagues Speak Out
Former dance partner Lisa Riley described Windsor as “sad, subdued, and burdened” after leaving Strictly. On the day he was informed of his cancellation, she said, “The day he was informed he was no longer required really broke his spirit.” Kristina Rihanoff, a former colleague, added that the “psychological impact” of leaving Strictly was very severe as Windsor couldn’t do what he loved.
Final Days
Windsor’s aunt, Alison Windsor, said her nephew lived for dancing. She stated, “He lived for dancing, breathed it, slept it. That was his vocation in life.” The court also heard that Windsor had been on suicide watch over Christmas 2023 and had expressed suicidal thoughts to his ex-partner Ollie Augustin.
Windsor’s last words to Augustin were: “I would kill myself if I couldn’t be with me.” His friend Marcus Collins testified, saying Windsor was inconsolable after being cut from the show. “The day he was informed he was no longer required really broke his spirit,” Collins said.
A Life Cut Short
Windsor’s death was ruled a likely overdose of drugs and alcohol. Louise Rainbow, former executive producer, described Windsor as one of three stars dropped ahead of the 2015 series, adding that though he was disappointed, his reaction “wasn’t that different” to other dancers and did not cause her concern.
The inquest continues, offering a stark reminder of how the entertainment industry can impact mental health. The story is a tragic tale of a man who loved his job more than anyone else and whose life was destroyed by its cancellation.
