Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley revealed that her Strictly Come Dancing partner Robin Windsor’s “glow had gone” following his removal from the show, an inquest has heard.
Windsor, 44, was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in February 2024.
Riley and Windsor were paired on Strictly in 2012, forging a close bond during the competition. “To say we hit it off was an understatement,” she said in a written statement to West London Coroner’s Court in the UK on Wednesday. “We were literally joined at the hip.”
Riley was grappling with personal grief at the time. “I had only just lost my mum in the July. I, myself, was in a very difficult place,” she stated. “Robin was my rock.”
Windsor first joined Strictly in 2010, participating in four series through 2013. He danced with celebrities including Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Riley, and Deborah Meaden of Dragons’ Den.
A back injury sidelined him from the 2014 series, and he was dropped from the program in 2015, though he did make an appearance in that year’s Christmas special.
Riley testified that Windsor’s mental health declined after being removed from Strictly. “It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into depression,” she told the court. “His glow was gone.”
She described Windsor’s struggles with self-doubt, stating he often felt “never good enough” and experienced “imposter syndrome.” The court also heard that he was insecure about his physique and used steroids, which, when combined with alcohol, could negatively impact his well-being.
Riley shared that Windsor faced financial challenges and would sometimes disappear for periods. Her last contact with him was around Christmas 2023, after she saw a “really dark” post on Facebook.
The jury began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon and were adjourned until Thursday morning to continue their consideration.
Source: Press Association
