Robin Windsor: Strictly star's family call for 'constant media speculation' about his death to stop
The professional dancer, who appeared on the BBC's show from 2010 to 2015, died aged 44 on Wednesday.
Thursday 22 February 2024 18:15, UK
The family of Strictly Coming Dancing star Robin Windsor have asked for the "constant media speculation" around his death to stop.
The professional dancer, who appeared on the BBC's show from 2010 to 2015, died aged 44 on Wednesday.
His cause of death has not yet been released.
In a statement, Mr Windsor's family expressed gratitude for the tributes that have been paid to him.
But they also asked for space and for speculation about his death to stop.
"We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and celebration of our beloved Robin," they said.
"While we understand that there is a huge public and media interest around his passing, we as a family need time to process our shock and grief.
"We ask for the needs of our family and friends to be taken into consideration and for our privacy to be respected at this difficult time.
"We would ask that the constant media speculation stop. As we have further information, we will share a statement in due course."
Windsor, who was born in Suffolk, 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 at domestic and international level.
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The performer, trained in Latin and ballroom dance, joined the cast of show Burn The Floor in 2001 and toured the world for 10 years, with a nine-month run on Broadway.
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'Excruciating pain' from ongoing injury
Windsor broke on to TV screens with in 2010, performing on the hit dance show until 2014 when he was forced to pull out of the series due to a slipped disc which left him paralysed for four days.
Although he never won the Glitterball Trophy, he reached seventh place with both Patsy Kensit and Anita Dobson.
In a long tribute on Instagram, fellow professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff said he had been experiencing "excruciating pain" from an ongoing back injury.
Rihanoff, who was a long-time dance partner with Windsor and also appeared on Strictly, said he had been "absolutely destroyed" after leaving the show.
She also said he was "struggling more and more with instability of work and excruciating back pain".