Strictly Star Robin Windsor’s Final Note Sparks BBC Duty of Care Questions
The final words of a beloved television star are now at the center of a deeply emotional inquest and they are raising serious questions about duty of care inside one of Britain’s biggest entertainment shows.
Robin Windsor, best known as a professional dancer on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, left behind letters that revealed profound heartbreak over his departure from the show. An inquest into his death has heard that he felt losing his role in 2015 marked the beginning of a painful downward spiral. Windsor died in February 2024 at the age of 44. A post-mortem concluded he most likely died from an overdose involving drugs and alcohol.
For millions of viewers, Robin Windsor was energy, charisma and glitter under the spotlight. He danced with high-profile celebrities and became a familiar face during his four seasons on Strictly between 2010 and 2013. But behind the sequins and smiles, the inquest has heard that he was struggling.
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Evidence presented in court revealed that Windsor had suffered a serious back injury in 2013 that required surgery. He missed a season while recovering. When his contract was not renewed the following year, friends and family say the emotional impact was severe. Fellow dancer Kristina Rihanoff told the court he changed significantly after the injury and described the competitive world of television as isolating. Former partner Marcus Collins said losing the show “broke his spirit.” His aunt told jurors that dancing was not just a job, it was his identity.
The letters found near him reportedly spoke of loneliness, sadness and a sense that the loss of his role had deeply affected his mental health. At the same time, witnesses acknowledged he had faced mental health challenges since childhood and he was also coping with the breakdown of a relationship in the months before his death.
The BBC’s former executive producer testified that several dancers were let go as part of a routine refresh of the lineup and that his reaction did not appear unusual at the time. But this inquest is not only about one contract decision. It is about what happens when careers built on public performance suddenly change and whether enough support exists behind the scenes.
This case matters far beyond one show. It speaks to mental health in the entertainment industry, to the pressures of public life and to how institutions respond when talent faces vulnerability.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through mental health organizations and crisis helplines in your country. You are not alone.
We will continue to follow developments from the inquest and bring you verified updates as they emerge. Stay with us for comprehensive coverage on this and other major stories shaping our world.
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