HomeTVRobin Windsor Strictly 2013 week 5 interview

Robin Windsor Strictly 2013 week 5 interview

Last weekend Strictly Come Dancing served up its biggest shock of the series so far when Dragonā€™s Den star Deborah Meaden and her partner Robin Windsor left the competition.

Following Saturday nightā€™s live show we had no doubt they would sail through so we, like everyone else, were incredibly shocked that the couple left so early in the competition. Ā What we will say is that just because Robin is out of the competition, it doesnā€™t mean we wonā€™t be bringing any more weekly interviews after this week.

Now the shock has sunk in we had a chat with Robin to talk about all things Deborah, discuss their time on the show and find out who heā€™s rooting for now.

Sadly you and Deborah left Strictly during Sunday nightā€™s results show. Did you expect that to happen?

For me Deborahā€™s the most improved dancer in the competition. We put out our best dance on Saturday night and it was the first time we both said to each other on Sunday ā€˜you know what, I think weā€™re going to be safe this week and not have to worry about itā€™. Unfortunately we were in a position on the leaderboard where notoriously couples donā€™t get voted for because people think theyā€™re safe. I think because we put out such a good dance, viewers just thought we were safe. This happens every year about this time. Last year Kimberley Walsh was in the bottom two at this time and itā€™s the week that Jimi Mistry went home. Week 5 is always tough and unfortunately it was Deborah and I.

The result show was hard to watch because you and Deborah were both so emotionalā€¦

I found extremely difficult to contain myself and my emotions as we got voted off. It was more for Deborahā€™s sake than mine. She loved the experience so much. Deborah had always been one of these people that had to be the leader and had to be the strong one all the time. Itā€™s the first time I think in her life that sheā€™s been able to sit back and take instruction from somebody else, and just really enjoy it. She just loves Ballroom dancing and the fact that we were voted off at such an early stage has just been devastating for both of us.

When it was announced on Sunday that it was Patrick and Anya in the dance off, it seemed you and Deborah were resigned to leaving the competition. Would you say that was true?

We were the first couple to be put into the bottom two and we said to ourselves ā€˜depending on who it is that weā€™re in the bottom two with, itā€™s going to determine our fateā€™. As soon as Patrick and Anya were announced as the other couple we kind of felt a little bit defeated but we still went out there and gave it 100%. Deborah did it much better the second time around but unfortunately for the judges it just wasnā€™t enough for them on the night.

Robin and Deborah week 5

You injected a bit of Paso Doble into your Viennese Waltz and you took a big risk. Do you think it was the risk that ultimately didnā€™t pay off?

Iā€™d taken a huge risk using the table and putting a brand new twist on the Viennese Waltz. The thing is, for Deborah to feel confident after last weekā€™s Jive she needed something she was going to feel comfortable with. She absolutely loved the table-ography and the way that the number was created. It was exactly about her, who she is and what she does, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whatā€™s even sadder is that weā€™ve had thousands upon thousands of messages on Twitter and Facebook saying that it wasnā€™t our time to go and people couldnā€™t believe this had happened. We know we can leave with our heads held high and we did a fantastic dance. We were just upset because Deborah had at least a few more weeks to go and she just loved the experience.

Does it add to the frustration that Deborah wasnā€™t the weakest dancer in the competition and other less-able dancers are still in the competition?

You know what, the people voted for who they wanted to go through. Whether it is people who do deserve or donā€™t deserve to go through, it is a public vote and they are the ones who decide who gets to stay and who goes. I wish everybody luck on the show. Everybody loves what theyā€™re doing and has a great time. Some people bring the entertainment factor and thatā€™s what some people like to see. I personally think they got it wrong this time but hopefully it will make people aware that they should be voting for their favourite to stay in the competition.

What normally happens after a shock exit is that the voting rights itself and the person that should have gone, goes the following weekā€¦

Exactly! Itā€™s all down to the British public now who they want to keep. Itā€™s not about necessarily keeping the best dancer; itā€™s about keeping their favourites. Whoever that may be I urge everyone to pick up the phone or vote online for their favourite.

Now that youā€™re out of the show, tell us how much impact it has on your life now you donā€™t have the intensive training week-on-week.

I woke up on Monday and still had to go to professional rehearsals so it was all a normal day, then all of a sudden everybody was going off to train with their celebrity and I wasnā€™t. I was quite lost. I will be there every Saturday and Sunday up until Christmas supporting everyone and doing the group numbers. Iā€™ll be doing some stuff for It Takes Two and Iā€™m sure Iā€™ll be doing the Christmas special.

Robin and Deborah week 5

We hear that you and Deborah will still be doing some training even though youā€™re out of the show. Is that right?

Deborah has said that she doesnā€™t want to stop dancing but the thing is she will only dance with me.Ā  She said, ā€˜once Iā€™ve danced with Robin Windsor Iā€™ll never want to dance with anyone elseā€™ (laughs). I promised her that I would teach her a couple of the dances that she hasnā€™t got to do that she really wanted to do. Fingers crossed that weā€™ll both be part of the live tour in the New Year. Deborah doesnā€™t want to stop dancing, she loves it so much and I think being part of the live tour would be the perfect ending for her.

It was really sweet in the Goodbye Deborah video that the official Strictly site posted that Deborah said she didnā€™t want to lose you. It seems like youā€™ve got a really strong friendship now the two of youā€¦

I said to Deborah about a week ago that itā€™s absolutely remarkable that two people from completely different walks of life can be thrown into the paths of one another and get on so brilliantly. Generally our paths would never have ever crossed and Iā€™m so glad they did. Weā€™ve made a very special friendship and weā€™re never going to lose each other. I think we both brighten up each otherā€™s lives in different ways and I think weā€™ll be friends for a very, very long time to come.

And of course youā€™ve now got a free business adviser which is of course very, very handyā€¦

(laughs) You could well look at it like that but I just see Deborah as a friend. Of course if I ever needed advice Iā€™m sure she would give it to me.

Who are you rooting for now in the competition?

I think the standard this year is very, very close. I think youā€™ve got more front-runners at the moment with Natalie, Sophie, Abbey and Susanna. Iā€™m saying this on a completely biased opinion because heā€™s my best friend in the whole wide world but I would love to see Artem be the only professional so far to have lifted that glitterball for the second time. Heā€™s got a perfect opportunity with Natalie and for his sake Iā€™d love for him to be the one to lift that trophy twice.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC One HD. Watch Robin and Deborahā€™s final dance from last week below:

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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