Robin Windsor left fans devastated when he exited Strictly Come Dancing back in 2014.
He first joined the BBC show in 2010 and was paired with Patsy Kensit but left four years later due to injury which rendered him unable to compete.
The closest he got to winning was coming in fifth place with Lisa Riley in 2012 but as the winner of the series’ 20th winner is due to be crowned this weekend, Robin has opened up on why he left the show.
The professional dancer, 43, has told how he had “no choice” in the matter.
Robin recalled: “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.”
Robin explained to Betway : “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. He was spot on!”
Robin added: “From that day forward I made sure I supported everybody on the show.
“Being bitter about not being asked back was not going to help any situation. I learnt that was the right thing to do and I thank Marcus for that.”
Speaking to the bookmakers, former star Robin predicted this year’s winner will either be Hamza Yassin or Helen Skelton.
But the pro dancer said he was sad that Kym Marsh didn’t make the final.
“The winner is clearly between Hamza and Helen, unless Fleur or Molly pull something incredible out of the bag for the final,” Robin said.
“I think it’s a race of two. The judges will be making their comments and scores, but they don’t matter for the final.
“It’s really down to the public over who they think should be the deserving winner.
“It was disappointing that Kym Marsh went out, as Strictly is about growth for me.
“Kym didn’t start that great, but then she started knocking them out of the ballpark. I would have loved to have seen her in the final.”
Just four couples remain in the competition as the nation eagerly awaits the final.
The pairs will perform three routines in the hopes of impressing the public, and while the judges will give their usual feedback and scores, the crowning of the winner will be in the public’s hands.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final airs Saturday on BBC One at 7.05pm.
