Strictly Come Dancing pro admits leaving 'wasn't my choice' and 'it broke my heart'
Strictly Come Dancing was rocked earlier this year by the sudden death of former cast member Robin Windsor, who passed away aged 44 in February. The professional dancer joined Strictly in 2010 before leaving in 2014 - but revealed in an interview before his death that it wasn't his choice to leave the BBC show.
Robin, 44, departed Strictly in 2014, having been replaced in that year's series by Trent Whiddon after suffering a back injury which led to him needing an operation. He participated in one professional sequence in the 2014 series and went on to compete in the 2015 Strictly Christmas Special alongside Alison Hammond.
Robin admitted last November that TV bosses "didn't want to" ask him to return to Strictly following his back operation and that his exit left him heartbroken. “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," Robin said in an interview with Betway.
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He went on to speak about Trent replacing him on the 12th series, admitting he struggled to watch the show but credits his then-boyfriend Marcus Collins, who he split from in 2016, for helping him to not be "bitter".
Robin 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 added: "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! 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.”
During his time on Strictly, Robin danced with Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden. His most successful series was in 2012, when he reached the semi-final with Lisa. He praised the BBC show for its inclusivity over recent years and the introduction of same-sex dancing, which he says he suggested "so many times" when on the show.
"The diversity that the show has got now is really important. If you go right back to the beginning, there was none and it’s grown. When I was dancing with Lisa Riley, I was a massive advocate for same-sex dancing," Robin said.
He added: "I mentioned it so many times and it was always a flat out no. I realise now that it wasn’t the right time. There needed to be a right time and the world is changing, it’s changed and it’s still changing. I think they’re getting it right now.”
Robin's death came as a shock to the Strictly community, with former celeb partners Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden among those who paid tribute to the dancer. "He was never happier than when he was covered in crystals!" Deborah said in her tribute.
