It was his lifelong ambition to be on Strictly – getting his first dance shoes at the age of three and moving to London at 15 to pursue his ballroom dream.
He Was Adored by Millions
Robin Windsor, who has died aged 44, became adored by millions and said he had ‘never been happier’ in his life after he partnered Anita Dobson, Patsy Kensit, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden on the show.
The Suffolk-born star, whose professional partner for many years was Kristina Rihanoff, was also instrumental in making the push for same-sex couples to feature on the show, backed by judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Why he Was Forced Off
But Strictly bosses took the decision to replace him after four years in 2014 after he suffered a back injury, which the much-loved dancer openly admitted ‘broke my heart’.
He said last year: ‘That was probably the worst thing that could have ever happened to me because it took away what I loved the most. I loved being on Strictly more than anybody who was there’.
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He Didn’t Want to Leave
The Latin dance specialist never recovered from being forced off the primetime programme and descended into a dark depression, blaming the BBC for the decision and insisting: ‘It wasn’t my choice to leave’.
Robin, known as ‘Bobby’ to his friends, always insisted that he was fit and healthy enough to return to the show after an operation – and never gave up hope of returning – although he claimed the BBC blocked it for health and safety reasons.
Peep into Robin’s Love Life
And in a double blow, his engagement to partner Davide Cini was broken off around the same time. Later in 2014, his final year on Strictly, he began his relationship to X-Factor runner-up Marcus Collins and they had planned to marry at a Downton Abbey-themed wedding but sadly they split in 2015.
Marcus shared pictures of them together in happier times today and said: ‘The World just got a lot less sparkly. Robin., You were so loved’.
