Strictly’s Robin Windsor Said the Way He Was Treated by the BBC ‘Destroyed’ Him in His Final Note

At an inquest into his death, jurors heard how the dancer felt the BBC's decision in 2015 marked the beginning of a decline he never escaped.

Robin Windsor said losing his job on "Strictly Come Dancing" marked the beginning of a decline he never recovered from, writing before his death that the way he was treated by the BBC "destroyed" him.

Robin Windsor during the "Here Come The Boys" photocall at London Palladium on May 25, 2021, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The 44-year-old former professional dancer left two handwritten notes before he was found dead at a hotel in west London on February 19, 2024.

Robin Windsor at the red carpet launch for "Strictly Come Dancing" on September 3, 2013, in Borehamwood, England. | Source: Getty Images

A jury inquest at West London coroner's court heard this week that Windsor directly linked his mental health struggles to the broadcaster's decision not to renew his contract in 2015. In one note, addressed to a friend, he wrote:

"This all really started when I lost my job on 'Strictly' and have been fighting it ever since. The way they treated me destroyed me…It started me on the road I'm still on."

The letters were discovered after a receptionist at the Hoxton hotel in Shepherd's Bush became concerned when Windsor failed to check out. He was found face down on a bed.

Police and paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination later concluded he most likely died from an overdose involving drugs and alcohol.

Police Constable Emily Hampson told jurors she recovered two notes near his body. In the first, Windsor described living with what he called "the heartache, the loneliness, the constant sadness." He wrote, "I just can't live like this anymore," adding, "It's just too painful."

He reflected on his life and career, saying he had experienced an "unreal life doing what I loved," but suggested he had reached an end point.

The second note, addressed to his former partner, Starlight Express performer Ollie Augustin, made clear he did not blame him. "I need you to understand that this is not your fault!" he wrote.

The inquest heard that Windsor had struggled with mental health difficulties since childhood, but much of the evidence this week focused on the period following his departure from "Strictly Come Dancing."

The professional dancer joined the BBC flagship in 2010 and appeared in four series, partnering celebrities including Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley, and "Dragons' Den" star Deborah Meaden.

Robin Windsor and Deborah Meaden at the launch photocall for the "Strictly Come Dancing" Live Tour 2014 on January 16 in Birmingham, England. | Source: Getty Images

He also danced with Susanna Reid during the 2011 "Children in Need" special and later with Alison Hammond in the 2015 Christmas edition. However, his dancing career faced a hiccup in 2013 when Windsor suffered a serious back injury that required surgery to remove a disc.

He was subsequently unable to take part in the 2014 series while recovering. The following year, producers decided not to renew his contract as part of a refresh of the professional line-up.

Retired executive producer Louise Rainbow told the court that three dancers, including Windsor, were dropped ahead of the 2015 series. She said the decision was editorial and part of keeping the programme current.

Rainbow described Windsor as "very disappointed" and "understandably upset," but said his reaction was not significantly different from others who had left the show.

Patsy Kensit and Robin Windsor at a photocall ahead of the "Strictly Come Dancing" Live Tour 2011 on January 14 in Nottingham, England. | Source: Getty Images

She told jurors she offered him alternative work, including appearances on the Christmas special and the spin-off programme "It Takes Two," both of which he accepted.

Lisa Riley and Robin Windsor at a photocall ahead of the "Strictly Come Dancing" Live Tour on January 17, 2013, in Birmingham, England. | Source: Getty Images

Her contemporaneous meeting notes, she said, did not record any concerns about his mental state at the time. She remembered him as "a joy to work with" and "a lovely man." However, other witnesses gave evidence suggesting the professional setback had a profound effect.

Former "Strictly" professional Kristina Rihanoff reportedly became tearful as she told the court Windsor "changed significantly" after his back injury.

She said she was "extremely upset" when she learned he would not return for the 13th series and described the psychological toll as severe because he was unable to do what he loved while dealing with chronic pain.

Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor at the "Strictly Come Dancing" 2011 press launch on September 7 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Rihanoff characterised the show as "a very lonely space with not much support" and said it was "heartbreaking" to watch him become "deeply sad, subdued and burdened." Windsor's aunt, Alison Barlow, told jurors her nephew had been "absolutely devastated," adding:

"He lived for dancing — breathed it, slept it. That was his vocation in life. Being called for 'Strictly' is every professional dancer's dream. I think things started with his back problems, when he was told he wasn't required again. I do honestly one hundred per cent believe that was the start of Robin's decline."

Windsor's former partner, "X Factor" finalist Marcus Collins, said the news "really broke his spirit." In a statement read to the court by HM Assistant Coroner Dr Anton van Dellen, he recalled that Windsor learned he was no longer required while they were in New York together. He further described him as inconsolable.

Marcus Collins and Robin Windsor at the 20th birthday party of Attitude Magazine on March 29, 2014, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Deborah Meaden, in a written statement, said she was aware Windsor's 2013 injury had affected rehearsals during their time as partners. She last saw him for dinner approximately a year before his death.

"We talked about his mental health problems but he had come through the bad times and had plans for the future," she said.

The court also heard that Windsor had been struggling following his split from Augustin. The pair had agreed to cease contact in January 2024.

Augustin told the inquest that Windsor had previously expressed fears about living without him, yet in his final note he insisted his former partner bore no responsibility.

Robin Windsor at the press night for "The Illusionists" on November 16, 2015, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, the professional dancer's death in February 2024 prompted widespread tributes across the entertainment industry. Announcing his passing at the time, Sisco Entertainment said:

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of our beloved friend Robin Windsor. [...] His extraordinary ability to express emotion through movement captivated audiences, leaving them spellbound with every step."

Robin Windsor at the Child of Britain Awards on June 24, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

"Strictly Come Dancing" judge Craig Revel Horwood called him a "dear friend" and one of the kindest and most caring people he had worked with. Head judge Shirley Ballas described him as "a wonderful dancer, true gentleman, good soul and so very young."

Robin Windsor at the Manchester United Foundation Ladies Lunch on October 6, 2014, in Manchester, England. | Source: Getty Images

As proceedings continue, jurors are being asked to consider the cumulative pressures Windsor faced — including long-term mental health struggles, physical injury, professional rejection, and relationship breakdown — in the months and years leading up to his death.

At the centre of the hearing remain his own words, written shortly before he died, describing a pain he felt unable to endure and tracing it back to the moment he believed his career changed course.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.