EMMERDALE actress Lisa Riley said Robin Windsor’s “glow had gone” after he was dropped from Strictly, an inquest heard.
The professional dancer, 44, was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, in February 2024.
An inquest heard Windsor left a suicide note saying the way he was treated by the BBC “destroyed me”.
The pro added: “It started me on the road I’m still on.
“All I wanted from life was to be happy.
“I loved my job more than anyone else.”
Riley was Windsor’s dance partner in the penultimate series he appeared on in 2012.
After being paired with Windsor, Riley said they were “joined at the hip”.
“To say we hit it off was an understatement,” the actress said in a written witness statement read to West London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.
“I had only just lost my mum in the July. I, myself, was in a very difficult place.
“Robin was my rock.”
The Latin and ballroom dancer joined Strictly in 2010 and danced with actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Riley, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden in four series until 2013.
He could not perform in the 2014 series because of a back injury and was dropped in 2015, but still appeared in the Christmas special that year, dancing alongside TV presenter Alison Hammond.
“It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into depression,” Riley said.
“His glow had gone.”
The actress recalled how she and Windsor had built up an “incredible trust” and remained friends.
“He literally told me everything,” she said.
“I trusted him and he trusted me.
“There were many, many happy times to begin with and together we did have so much fun.”
Riley said Windsor told her of times of “never feeling good enough” and “imposter syndrome”.
“Robin was and always has been very influenced by other men,” she added.
“It became a standing joke that he fell in love after three days.”
Riley said Windsor was insecure about his body and took steroids which, combined with alcohol, would put him in a bad place, jurors heard.
The court was also told how he was “drowning in debts” and “frantically” spent on designer items he could not afford.
Riley added: “Money problems also played a part of his darker days.”
She said her last contact with Windsor was around Christmas 2023, when they texted after Riley saw him share a “really dark” post on Facebook.
Riley continued: “I of course text him straight away and he replied saying he was ‘fine, just usual ups and downs of life’.”
The inquest also heard Robin was “obsessed” with watching Strictly prior to his death.
His panto co-star Terry Gleed said Robin spent his free time during rehearsals watching the show.
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The star added: “I could feel that he really wanted to be there more than where we were. He missed it dearly.”
The court heard Robin had suffered a back injury in late 2013 which resulted in him needing surgery to remove a disc.
He missed the 2014 series while he recovered.
Next year telly bosses chose not to renew his contract.
Pal Kristina Rihanoff, 48, told the hearing yesterday she was “extremely upset” after learning Robin had not been asked back for the 13th series.
She added “the psychological impact was very severe” because he “couldn’t do what he loved” due to his back pain.
Kristina described it as “heartbreaking” to see him “deeply sad, subdued and burdened”.
The inquest continues.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.