Lisa Riley, 47, has been deeply affected by the passing of her former Strictly partner Robin Windsor, to the extent that filming for Emmerdale has become challenging.
The soap actress expressed her profound grief following Robin’s death in February, finding it difficult to step into her role as the spirited Mandy Dingle on set. She likened the sorrow of losing Robin to the emotional pain she experienced when her mother passed away from breast cancer in July 2012.
She added: “So to then lose my best friend as well… It was like, ‘Why does God take the best?’. It’s a pain like no other.” She and Robin became friends when they danced on Strictly later in 2012.
He comforted her on her recent loss and Lisa said: “He was such a big part of my life. There have been days when I didn’t want to go in front of the camera. I had to paint Mandy Dingle on… put the wig and lashes on and go out there. But it’s so painful.”
She has been supported by her partner Al as well as co-stars including Emma Atkins, who plays Charity Dingle, and Chas Dingle actor Lucy Pargeter.
Holding back tears, Lisa added: “All of my friends at Emmerdale have helped me. The Dingle sisters all share a dressing room and I can’t thank those girls enough. There are six of us. And everyone in that room has been a godsend beyond words. They have given me the energy to keep filming. They have been a great therapy.”
Lisa was so close to Robin that she was asked to collect an award on his behalf at the British LGBT Awards on Friday. She said: “It feels weird. I should be ringing him and going, ‘Hi babe, do you like my makeup?’. That’s what I used to do. I’ve lost that.”
Robin, who was gay, died aged 44 after a long struggle with mental health issues. He had also suffered with a painful back injury.
