The Strictly Come Dancing family is mourning the loss of one of their own, Robin Windsor. The talented dancer, who was a founding member of the Burn The Floor dance company, sadly passed away at the age of 44. His death was announced by his dance company, and tributes have been pouring in from fans and friends alike.
Robin was a beloved figure on Strictly, even after he left the show. When news of his passing broke, details about the cause and date of his death were not immediately available. However, it has since been revealed that Robin was found dead in a London hotel, following a “troubling incident” over New Year.
In a heartfelt statement, Robin’s family thanked everyone for their love and support during this difficult time. They asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss, saying: “We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and celebration of our beloved Robin.
“While we understand that there is a huge public and media interest around his passing, we as a family need time to process our shock and grief. We ask for the needs of our family and friends to be taken into consideration and for our privacy to be respected at this difficult time.”
Just wanted to be loved
Strictly’s Vincent Simone, who had been friends with Robin since they were teenagers, revealed to The Mirror that Robin was a true romantic at heart. He said: “Robin was always falling in love. It was a big thing for him. The poor man just wanted to be loved. He had loads of love from the rest of us, almost too much.”
“But I almost lost count of his boyfriends. He wasn’t that person who slept around, but he wanted a full on serious relationship. He was looking for love, a marriage, something serious. I think it was his love life, his relationships, that he struggled with the most.”
Robin was once engaged to Davide Cini after proposing during a romantic helicopter ride in 2013, but they split a year later. After his relationship with Davide ended, Robin found love again with X-Factor star Marcus Collins.
Didn’t know he was loved
Earlier this year, author Nicola Rayner reached out to Robin when she noticed he was going through another bout of depression. “In our last call, I could hear the flatness in his voice, the catch in his breath as he chain-smoked at the other end of the phone,” she wrote in the Telegraph. “I told him, as many others who cared about him will have done, ‘You are so loved’.
‘I know,’ he said. But I’m not sure that he did. Not really.”
Former boyfriend pays tribute
Marcus Collins has been sharing heartfelt messages to his former boyfriend Robin, after they were together for 18 months. On Instagram, he shared a clip of American singer Yebba and captioned it: “@robinwindsor Be at Peace my darling.” Marcus had previously shared a tribute to Robin following the news of his death. He shared a photo of them together and wrote: “The World just got a lot less sparkly. Robin You were so loved.”
Three-day search
Robin’s friends started a desperate three-day search to find the Strictly star after he went missing last week. Vincent Simone, who has known Robin since he was 17, said a close friend of the dancer started urgently calling his mates after he disappeared. But sadly they were too late, and Robin, 44, was found dead in a London hotel room on Monday.
Dancer Vincent, who was planning to work with Robin later this year, told how his friend’s loss has left him heartbroken and how when he opens his eyes Robin was the “first thing” on his mind. He continued to add that Robin was the “best man” he had ever met and that when times were tough before he would often “detach himself from people” but would always come back – except this time.
Charity support
An important video about mental health from SANE, a charity Robin helped, posted a video where Robin talks about how he got through tough times. In the video, you can hear Robin say: “Once I spoke to someone who completely listened, they didn’t really have to give me advice, they just had to listen and I could see that they wanted me to be better. It’s picking the right person to speak to.”
The charity expressed their sadness, saying: “We were very distressed to learn of the death of Robin Windsor, one of SANE’s most vigorous and loyal ambassadors.” They praised him for bringing “the elegance, energy and sheer joy of his dancing into mental health and gave hope to those, like him, who have struggled with dark times.”
Tragic Hotel Discovery
The former BBC star was found in a room at an unnamed London hotel shortly after returning from a “dream” holiday in South Africa. A friend described the late dancer as a “nurturing soul” who “lit up any room he walked into” and shared details about his last days.
The friend told MailOnline that Robin had hinted at something traumatic happening over New Year but didn’t disclose what it was. After this, Robin went to South Africa and posted many photos of his sunny holiday. The friend said: “He [Robin] kept saying that something had happened over New Year but he wouldn’t say what it was. He sounded absolutely traumatised whatever had happened must have been truly awful.”
Concerning Update
Fans were worried when Kristina Rihanoff, a Strictly professional dancer, shared a concerning message about Robin’s health. She paid tribute to her friend and dance partner Robin in a heartfelt post. She talked about the “pain and devastation” she felt after his death, revealing that he was “struggling more and more” before he died due to “instability of work” and “excruciating back pain”.
Kristina told her Instagram followers: “Many of you, who went to see his farewell tour, know perfectly well that he spoke very openly about his mental health struggles and thoughts of suicide. I’m sure it was heartbreaking for anyone who loved Robin to hear something like that, but those thoughts were in his head for quite many years and it’s so deeply sad that he felt that he is better off in another place rather than stay here. Too much pain too much disappointment, too much neglect.”
She continued: “I was asked today to appear on every news outlet, every TV show to pay tribute him to which I said no. Not today, not over zoom saying a couple of words what a great guy he was – the truth is he was an incredible person and it’s absolute tragedy that he felt there was no way out. Thank you for everything Robin, rest in peace.”
Strictly statement
After the sad news of Robin Windsor’s passing, Strictly Come Dancing shared their feelings: “The whole Strictly Come Dancing family are deeply saddened to hear the news about our dear friend Robin Windsor. He was not only an exceptionally talented dancer and choreographer but also a caring, considerate and kind person both on and off the dance floor. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this extremely difficult time.”
Burn The Floor, where Robin danced for twenty years, announced his death on Facebook: “The Burn the Floor family has lost one of its founding members, Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor – who has tragically passed away.”
They remembered him fondly: “A BTF journeyman he danced with us for twenty years – including Broadway, The West End and all our crazy adventures around the world. His stunning image attached with Jessica Raffa defined our company, colourful, extreme and sensual. His talent, attitude, energy and personality helped create the Burn the Floor stage reputation. He leaves a void in our hearts that will never be filled, yet our wonderful memories will stay forever.” Later, they posted another tribute: “Today we all dance for you. Burn The Floor would not be Burn The Floor without you. Fly with the angels Robin. Rest in Peace.”
Tributes poured in for Robin, with stars like dancer James Jordan and TV host Susanna Reid getting emotional. On Good Morning Britain, Susanna, with tears in her eyes, shared her love for Robin: “Robin was larger than life and I fell in love with him and fell in love with dancing when I danced with him back then [Children In Need’s 2011 special],” she said to ITV viewers. “He was an absolutely remarkable dancer, incredibly strong, so creative and he was just so enthusiastic about dancing. I just adored him. He was the most incredible personality.”
Brendan Cole, another former Strictly pro, couldn’t hold back his tears on the show as he remembered Robin. Speaking on the phone, Brendan said, “It’s completely devastating,” while Erin Boag added her thoughts too. “Condolences to you, Susanna, you danced with him, you must have spent a lot of time with him. Erin and I spent many years on and off the dance floor with him.”
Debilitating injury
Back in 2014, Robin Windsor, a former Strictly Come Dancing star, shared his fears about ending up in a wheelchair if he didn’t stop dancing. He told The Mirror about a scary time when he couldn’t move for days because of his back pain: “I have a slipped disc in my back and the nerve is exposed, causing agonising pains shooting down my leg. A week ago I was paralysed on the floor of my friend’s house as the pain was so bad. I was there for three or four days. I couldn’t risk going ahead. It was a heartbreaking decision but I had no choice. If the slipped disc had popped out while I was dancing, I could have ended up with permanent nerve damage and been in a wheelchair.”
Robin joined Strictly in 2010 but had to leave in 2014 because of his injury.
Final weeks
In his last days, Robin Windsor enjoyed life and shared pictures from his trip to South Africa. A fan commented under a photo that they had been “dancing in his arms just a couple of weeks ago” sharing their special moments with him. Deborah Meaden, who danced with Robin on Strictly, said he even visited her mum in South Africa at the end of January.
But before he passed away, Robin posted on social media about feeling like he was “hiding” and being in “darkness”. He shared a photo of himself dressed all in black, standing against a dark wall, and wrote: “Hiding in the shadows.”
Now, fans are leaving messages under this sad last post, remembering Robin. One person said: “So very sad he taught nurses in Oxford health to dance online during the pandemic. Was thrilled to attend his sessions his kindness and generosity at a time f great stress for the NHS will always be a highlight of that time for me God Bless a beautiful man.”
*If you’re struggling with your mental health, you can talk to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
