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Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley has confessed difficulty getting in “front of the camera” following the loss of her friend Robin Windsor.The Mandy Dingle favourite claims she’s been leaning on her ITV co-stars for support in the wake of the dancer’s death earlier this year.
Fans were informed on February 20 that the ex-Strictly Come Dancing icon had died, aged 44. Tributes from celebrities and fans alike flooded social media at the time, with Robin’s former co-stars Gorka Marquez and Nancy Xu both speaking out about their loss.
Lisa, 48, - who was paired with the star during season ten of Strictly - opened up about how losing her friend has taken a toll on her career. In a recent interview with The Mirror, the actress admitted that Robin died just 12 years after she lost her mother to breast cancer.
“So then lose my best friend as well... It was like, ‘Why does God take the best?’. It’s a pain like no other,” she confessed. “He was such a big part of my life.”
The former You’ve Been Framed! presenter also admitted she’s been having a tough time portraying Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale. Lisa made her debut as the feisty character back in 1995 and remained a main cast member up until her first departure in September 2000.
Fourteen months later, she returned for a brief stint before temporarily exiting again.
After 17 years away from the screen, the Bury-born actress confirmed she’d appear in three 2018 episodes before returning permanently in September 2019 onwards.
“There have been days when I didn’t want to go in front of the camera,” Lisa revealed. “I had to paint Mandy Dingle on… put the wig and lashes on and go out there. But it’s so painful.”
The former BBC ballroom star revealed that her Emmerdale co-stars have been on hand to help her navigate through this tumultuous time.
“The Dingle sisters all share a dressing room and I can’t thank those girls enough, she explained.
“There are six of us. And everyone in that room has been a godsend beyond words. They have given me the energy to keep filming. They have been a great therapy.”
Lisa added that it feels “so weird” that she can no longer speak to the former professional dancer on the phone.
“I should be ringing him and going, ‘Hi babe, do you like my makeup?’. That’s what I used to do. I’ve lost that.”
Tonight (November 3), friends and former Strictly stars are due to collaborate for an evening of celebration titled Robin Windsor - The Final Act.
The show has been crafted by Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis to honour the life of the beloved dancer. It will be hosted by Lisa Riley and Anton Du Beke.
Robin Windsor - The Final Act takes place at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane on Sunday.
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