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The Strictly Come Dancing community came together in a poignant homage to the late Robin Windsor, who tragically passed away at the age of 44 after a prolonged struggle with depression last year.
His life and legacy were honoured at the glittering event titled 'Robin Windsor: The Final Act' held in London on Sunday.
The evening was hosted by Emmerdale's Lisa Riley, a dear friend of Robin since their pairing on Strictly in 2012, who expressed her hope that Robin would "shine down on us all and keep shining in heaven".
Anton Du Beke, a judge on Strictly, co-hosted the night at the prestigious Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where he fondly likened Robin to the show's coveted Glitterball trophy, describing him as a "human Glitterball". Paying their respects were fellow Strictly luminaries Gorka Marquez, Joanne Clifton, Vincent Simone, Lauren Oakley, and Aljaz Skorjanec alongside his wife Janette Manrara.
Also present were Robin's former celebrity dance partners from the show, including Deborah Meadon, his partner in 2013, and Anita Dobson, who teamed up with him in 2011. The tribute was orchestrated by ex-Strictly professional Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis, with the blessing of Robin's family.
In a gesture reflecting Robin's dedication to mental health awareness, proceeds from the silent auction held during the event were contributed to the charity Sane, reports the Mirror.
Lisa solemnly addressed the crowd, saying: "The important message is to keep talking and look out for your friends," while Anton chimed in with a poignant note: "Fellas don't talk and tend to keep it to themselves. Get it out lads, speak to Sane."
The event was packed with stars including ex-Strictly favourites Linda Robson, Dr Ranj Singh, Pixie Lott, and Angela Rippon, who shared the stage with Kai Widdrington for a performance.
In the wake of Robin's passing, recollections have emerged about his candid discussions on his mental health struggles.
He had spoken openly about how his departure from Strictly in 2014 significantly affected his mental wellbeing, having coped with a back injury and subsequent surgery only to find out he was being released from the show after three years.
It was during this challenging period that Robin reached out to the charity Sane, confessing that managing on his own had become too overwhelming.
Robin had expressed to Sane, "That was probably the worst thing that could have ever happened to me because it took away what I loved the most. I loved being on Strictly more than anybody who was there. I got to dance and show 13 million people every single week what it was that I love to do. So, once that was taken away from me, I went into quite a steady decline," reflecting on his feelings last year.
"And, I know we all have our dark days, but my dark days turned into dark weeks and I wouldn't get out of bed. I didn't really understand why I was feeling like that or how to get out of that state," Robin confessed. He revealed that a representative from Sane reached out to him on social media after he posted several concerning tweets, expressing his gratitude for their support during his darkest hours.
"I then started to find somebody who could help me to talk to and the moment I started talking about it all, everything just started to get better," he disclosed.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
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