STRICTLY star Lauren Oakley has revealed she was living with Robin Windsor months before his death.
It was announced yesterday that Robin had passed away, aged 44.
Lauren, 32 who joined the BBC ballroom show last year but worked with Robin on Burn The Floor dance shows, has now broken her silence with a moving post.
In a now-deleted Instagram Story, she wrote against a black backdrop: “Living with Robin over the last Strictly season really showed me how much of a loving heart he had.
“The kindest, most beautiful soul. He guided me, gave me advice & was always there whenever I needed questions answered.
“He supported me throughout my whole career. He just loved people & dance.
“I’m so glad I had the chance to spend this precious time with you Robin. And I will miss you so very much.”
It was reported today that Robin had been found dead in a London hotel after suffering a troubling incident over New Year.
A friend told the Daily Mail: “He kept saying that something had happened over New Year but he wouldn’t say what it was.
“He sounded absolutely traumatised – whatever had happened must have been truly awful.”
His final days were spent working on a luxurious cruise ship and taking in the spectacular sights of Africa.
Just days after he returned to the capital, Robin was found dead in a London hotel, the Mail reported.
It is not known how he died.
On January 4, Robin told his followers: “Big shout out and love to everyone who’s reached out and checked in the last week.
“Sorry I have not replied… it’s been a bit of a trying time and things are looking up. Robin.”
Weeks later he shared a quote from Dr Thema Bryant hinting that he had experienced trauma.
It read: “Trauma teaches you to expect and accept the bare minimum.
“In this new season, may you adjust your standards and learn to receive the maximum.
“You are worthy. You are enough. You deserve overflow.”
Robin previously opened up about his depression and revealed he couldn’t watch Strictly after leaving the show.
Robin finished runner-up on the 2012 series with actress Lisa Riley and became one of the show’s most recognisable faces.
He first appeared on the 2010 season with Patsy Kensit, before partnering Anita Dobson two years later and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden in 2013.
It comes as:
Robin also partnered Susanna Reid and Alison Hammond in one-off specials.
His death was confirmed by Sisco Entertainment, which said Robin’s friendship “was a gift cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him”.
Robin left the show in 2014, claiming he was axed by bosses following a “horrible back operation”.
He revealed how he found it difficult to watch the show after his departure, telling MailOnline: “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. One of my best friends Trent Whiddon, who replaced me to dance with Pixie Lott, I wanted to watch and support him, but it broke my heart.
“I was with Marcus Collins from The X Factor, who was my partner at the time, and said to him, ‘I’m really struggling to watch the show.’
“He told me the best thing to do was to really get behind and support everybody. He said it was hard for him to watch the success of Little Mix, who beat him on X Factor.”
An ambassador for mental health charity Sane, he also said he had battled with depression from the age of 19.
Speaking to the charity, he said: “I didn’t really understand when I was 19 years old that I was suffering from depression at that time.
“And as I said, I was fuelling my life with as much as possible without drugs.
“Dancing is really what makes me happy and, without it in my life, I felt lost.
“Thankfully, I was given an opportunity to get back into it and had an incredible job travelling the world.”
Robin described losing his role on the show as “probably the worst thing that could have ever happened”.
He added: “Not really understanding what was going on I found that I was sad.
“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.”
His final post on Instagram was uploaded on January 28, a dimly lit selfie with the caption: “Hiding in the shadows.”
