20 February 2024 , 11:28
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Heartbreaking details have emerged about Robin Windsor’s final weeks, suggesting he was living life to the fullest.
Not only did he spend time in South Africa with former Strictly partner Deborah Meaden’s mother last month, but he was dancing with fans just two weeks ago, as one has now revealed.
The dancer's death was announced early this morning, with condolences flooding in. Fellow Strictly star James Jordan was one of the first to pay tribute to Robin shortly after news of the 44-year-old's death emerged.
Tributes have also started to pile up beneath Robin’s , which saw the celebrated dancer standing against a black wall while wearing an all-black outfit. Uploaded three weeks ago, Robin captioned his selfie: “Hiding in the shadows.” Beneath the image, one of Robin’s fans revealed they’d been “dancing in his arms just a couple of weeks ago”.
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Former BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor has died at the age of 44 (Instagram/ @robinwindsor)
Tributes have flooded in for Robin (Instagram/ @robinwindsor)Their heartbreaking Instagram comment read: “So sad & shocked. Just a couple of weeks ago I was dancing in his arms for 90 mins as I didn’t have a partner in a cha cha cha class. A gentleman. A gentle man. A magical day for me. Sending love to his friends and family. RIP.”
Meanwhile, on January 29, Dragons’ Den star Deborah revealed Robin had met up with her elderly mother while they were both in South Africa. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the famous businesswoman wrote: “11 years after we did @bbcstrictly together this happens and it is just lovely!! The wonderful @Robinwindsor and my Mum ( yep...87 years and amazing!!) meeting up in South Africa...don't you just love it!!" Making it clear how much fun he'd had meeting Deborah’s mum, Robin added three love hearts and reshared her tweet.
Heartbreaking details have emerged about Robin Windsor’s final weeksRobin’s death was announced by Burn The Floor on Facebook in the early hours of Tuesday, with the dance company telling fans: "The Burn the Floor family has lost one of its founding members, Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor - who has tragically passed away.
“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." No further details surrounding his tragic death have been confirmed.
Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas said: "I'm very saddened to hear the devastating news about this beautiful human being this morning. Robin Windsor… kind, gracious, gentle and extremely hard working. A wonderful dancer, true gentleman, good soul and so very young."
Robin first joined the BBC staple in 2010 and was paired with Patsy Kensit but left four years later due to injury which rendered him unable to compete. The professional dancer explained he had “no choice” in the matter but after speaking about his struggles with mental health an money, he opened his own firm offering corporate motivational speaking services and corporate team building.
Meanwhile, on January 29, Dragons’ Den star Deborah revealed Robin had met up with her elderly mother while they were both in South Africa (Getty Images)
Making it clear how much fun he'd had meeting Deborah’s mum, Robin added three love hearts and reshared her tweet (Alpha Press)A candid introduction on his website read: "We all have bad days – a combination of relationship problems, health concerns and financial mismanagement were the root of his – but increasingly those bad days became dark and Robin found himself living a life he increasingly didn’t recognise – fame, success, social admiration and yet once the curtain came down, or the credits rolled – isolated, depressed and insecure.
Robin first joined Strictly staple in 2010 (Instagram/ @robinwindsor)"He credits the support of friends and the charity Sane with his recovery. And of course, his greatest love of all – dance. In his own inimitable style Robin talks candidly about his journey, and the celebrities he has wowed us all with on the dance floor – while opening up about his struggles with the mental health issues that still have such a stigma attached to them. And how he found his way back emotionally and mentally to the spotlight and out of the dark days.
"When it comes to team building one size certainly does not fit all. Robin’s team building experiences are structured to promote teamwork. Quick step out of your comfort zones, open team communication and promote improved performance. All of this in a fun and relaxed environment."
Elsewhere, whilst discussing his Strictly exit, Robin recalled back in 2022: “Leaving Strictly wasn’t my choice. I had a horrible back operation and they decided that they didn’t want to ask me back the next year. It was probably for health and safety reasons, in case something happened, but I was physically fit.”
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Speaking to Betway, he continued: "One of my best friends Trent Whiddon, who replaced me to dance with Pixie Lott, I wanted to watch and support him, but it broke my heart. I was with Marcus Collins from The X Factor, who was my partner at the time, and said to him, ‘I’m really struggling to watch the show.' He told me the best thing to do was to really get behind and support everybody. He said it was hard for him to watch the success of Little Mix, who beat him on X Factor. He was spot on!”
He bravely added: "From that day forward I made sure I supported everybody on the show. Being bitter about not being asked back was not going to help any situation. I learnt that was the right thing to do and I thank Marcus for that.”