Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has opened up on the tragic death of her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Robin Windsor, who was found dead last year

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Lisa Riley paid tribute to Strictly’s Robin Windsor(Image: ITV)

Emmerdale legend Lisa Riley confesses she “couldn’t love” Strictly Come Dancing’s Robin Windsor any more than she already does. Lisa was paired with the beloved dancer during the tenth series of Strictly back in 2012.

The duo became the 10th couple to be sent packing from the competition as Olympian Louis Smith and his professional partner Flavia Cacace claimed the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Heartbreak followed last year when 44-year-old Robin was discovered dead in a hotel room.

Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman branded Robin’s passing as “heartbreaking” whilst co-host Tess Daly called it “such terribly sad news”, reports the Daily Star. She added that Robin had been taken “gone too young”.

Now Lisa, who plays Mandy Dingle, has opened up about Robin being her “best friend in the world”.

Chatting to Best magazine, she revealed: “He is my forever angel and now he’s up there with my mum and I take real comfort from that.

Lisa became friends with Strictly dancer Robin(Image: lisajaneriley/Instagram)

“I couldn’t love that man anymore if I tried. We promised the day we spread his ashes that we would all get together every year, even if it’s just an hour, and remember him.”

Lisa’s mum Cath Riley passed away in 2012 after a brief cancer fight. She described Cath as leaving “the biggest hole in her heart”.

Meanwhile Lisa says her time on Strictly “changed her life”. It was on the show that Lisa met her partner of 11 years Al, who was working on the band as part of the live tour.

Lisa revealed that she was engrossed in a book on tour, confessing that “no-one else reads the rubbish I read”, when Al approached her for a chat.

She was left “totally shocked” when he mentioned he had read the same book.

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Lisa and Robin competed on Strictly together(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

Their romance gradually flourished and they officially became a couple months later. Despite being engaged now, Lisa has previously stated that they’re not in a hurry to tie the knot.

In 2023, she expressed: “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it… We’re very happy as we are and while I love wearing the beautiful ring Al gave me, I’ve never been the kind of girl who longs for a big, flouncy day with a horse and carriage.

“That kind of thing gives me the ick, to be honest. I’m never going to change my name, so really, what would be the difference? We call each other husband and wife, and have been together for nine years.”

Joining Emmerdale in 1995 at the age of 49, Lisa’s character Mandy has seen her fair share of drama. Recently, she survived the Valentine’s Day limo crash, was held hostage by Ella Forster pleading to see Liam Cavanagh, and her son Vinny Dingle discovered that she isn’t his biological mother.

Outside of Emmerdale, Lisa hosted You’ve Been Framed! from 1998 to 2002 and was a regular face on Loose Women. From 2002 to 2005, she starred in Fat Friends alongside stars like Ruth Jones and James Corden.