Robin Windsor's family have shared details of the
Strictly Come Dancing star's funeral following his death at the age of 44. The much-loved professional dancer was found dead in a
London hotel room in February just days after returning from a dream holiday to South Africa. The shock news sparked an outpouring of grief from Robin's Strictly co-stars and celebrity partners over the years. The likes of Kristina Rihanoff and Lisa Riley were among those paying tribute as they spoke of the star's sweet nature and brave battle with his mental health . Robin had been open with his struggles and was an ambassador for mental health charity SANE, after battling depression from the age of 19. A month on from the tragic news of his death, Robin's family have released a statement sharing plans for his burial. The late star will be laid to rest at a private funeral which will be followed by a celebration of his life. The family also thanked fans for sharing their love and memories of Robin in recent weeks. They revealed today: "On Tuesday 26th March we will lay our beloved Robin to rest in his home town of Ipswich. The funeral will be a private service for invited family,
Friends and colleagues who were important to Robin in both his personal life and professional career. Robin Windsor's cause of death after
BBC Strictly Come Dancing dancer found dead in hotel Robin Windsor went on a 'dream' holiday to
South Africa shortly before his death ( Image: Instagram/ @robinwindsor) Robin's good friend Kristina Rihanoff spoke of his brave mental health battles ( Image: PA) "At a future date we welcome the opportunity for an invite only celebration of his life. In the meantime we once again thank everyone for the love and the memories shared of Robin." News of Robin's death was announced on 20th February. A statement from Sisco Entertainment, which represented him in various areas of theatre and corporate entertainment, said: "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of our beloved friend, Robin Windsor ." They went on: "His extraordinary ability to express emotion through movement captivated audiences, leaving them spellbound with every step. “Beyond his impeccable dancing, Robin’s vibrant spirit lit up the room, infusing rehearsals and performances with infectious energy and warmth. His laughter was contagious, his kindness boundless. His friendship was a gift cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Robin, you will be deeply missed," they added: "Your legacy will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to share in your light." Robin, who appeared on Strictly between 2010 and 2013, had returned to dancing after battling a back problem. His friend Kristina Rihanoff said he had been in 'excruciating pain' due to his health issue. Kristina said on
Instagram : “There is no words to express the pain and devastation. Robin wasn’t just my dance partner, he was a friend and together we shared endless experiences from our careers' highlights to hitting rock bottom of rejection. When I got partnered with him on Strictly I was blown away by his kindness, lighthearted personality and amazing loyalty. He had stood by me through many rough times. “Strictly for which I am deeply grateful for as there was no one else to lean on. He always found the way to bring my spirit up. While we went on to do many shows tours gigs & appearances together he was struggling more and more with instability of work and excruciating back pain because of the injury he had suffered during Strictly.” Robin continued to dance on the show but could not participate as a partner in Series 12 because of a back injury and had surgery on his back and was replaced by Trent Whiddon. But he did appear in week nine, on 23 November 2014, in the opening professional sequence. Speaking at the end of 2022, Robin opened up about why he quit the BBC series - admitting he had no choice. He recalled: “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.” The Latin and ballroom dancer Robin first began dancing at the age of three when his parents enrolled him in classes in Ipswich, according to his website. He went on to represent
England in numerous championships, both on the domestic and international levels. He joined the cast of show Burn The Floor in 2001 and toured the world for 10 years, with a nine-month run on Broadway. Robin also appeared in Dancing With The Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands and assisted in the choreography for the
Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance, as well as acting as a motivational speaker.