A former Strictly Come Dancing star who was found dead in a hotel room took his own life, a jury has concluded as they told an inquest that him being “vulnerable to rejection both emotionally and professionally” was among the “contributing factors” that led to his death.
Professional dancer Robin Windsor, 44, died after consuming alcohol and a drug, and was found in the room in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in February 2024.
Jurors at West London Coroner’s Court heard that Windsor had left a note which said the way he was treated when he was dropped from the show in 2015 “destroyed” him.
After around two hours of deliberation, the forewoman gave the jury’s findings on Thursday, saying: “We agree that the probable causes are an accumulation of many attributes to depression.
“Robin Jamie Windsor suffered from childhood trauma, he was vulnerable to rejection both emotionally and professionally.
“We also agree that loneliness, the lack of emotional maturity, the pressure of mounting debts, the lack of consistent mental health care and support and reoccurring heartache are all contributing factors of Robin Jamie Windsor’s mental health deterioration which in turn led him to take his own life.”
The Latin and ballroom dancer joined Strictly in 2010 and danced with actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Lisa Riley, and Dragons’ Den star 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.
Coroner Dr Anton van Dellen said after the jury’s conclusion: “I hope the family can take some comfort from the joy that Robin brought to so many people and the positive effect he had.
“That is a wonderful legacy.”
Addressing Windsor’s family at the front of the courtroom, the coroner added: “I hope you can think of the happy times he brought to the public and the deep affection the public held him in.”
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