Riley said Windsor told her of times of “never feeling good enough” and “imposter syndrome”, and that he was insecure about his body and took steroids which, combined with alcohol, would put him in a bad place.
One of Windsor’s ex-boyfriends, singer and X Factor star Marcus Collins, said in his written statement that the dancer “deteriorated” in 2014.
“The day he was informed he was no longer required for Strictly really broke his spirit,” Collins said, adding that Windsor had subsequently “struggled to balance his mental health and finances”.
From 2016 to 2024, he noted, “his mental health was pretty compromised and relationships with friends and partners came and went”.
Actor Terry Gleed, who appeared alongside Windsor in pantomime in 2023, told the court he felt his co-star was “obsessed” with Strictly and would often watch clips of the show.
“He was looking at his phone continuously, and I could feel he really wanted to be there… he missed it dearly,” Gleed told jurors.
Choreographer Scott Coldwell, who worked with Windsor on a live show called Here Come The Boys, said the dancer told him several times that he was “desperate” to go back on Strictly.
Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, who was partnered with Windsor on Strictly in 2013, said he “always did his best to present a bright and sunny face”.
“He always appeared positive and constructive,” she said, “but during my time dancing with him he experienced relationship difficulties, breaking off an engagement and feeling alone. I saw him tearful and distracted at times.”
But, Meaden added, other than his back pain, she “was unaware during our time dancing together of any greater issue”.
Windsor, from Ipswich, also partnered Patsy Kensit and Anita Dobson in the main show, and Sara Cox and Alison Hammond in Christmas specials.
He was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd’s Bush, west London.
Earlier this week, the coroner’s court heard that Windsor had left a note saying his problems started when he lost his job on Strictly, and referenced struggles with loneliness and relationships, among the triggers for his troubles.
