“Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley Opens Up About Heartbreak After Robin Windsor’s Tragic Passing”

Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has broken her silence on the heartache she has endured following the tragic death of her former Strictly partner, Robin Windsor. The soap actress, 47, has been deeply affected by Robin’s passing in February, making it challenging for her to portray the lively Mandy Dingle on screen. Lisa compared this loss to the pain she felt after her mother died of breast cancer in July 2012, stating, “So to then lose my best friend as well, it was like, why does God take the best? It’s a pain like no other.”

Lisa and Robin became close friends while dancing together on Strictly in 2012. Robin was a great comfort to Lisa during her mother’s passing, and his loss has been devastating for her. Lisa shared that there have been days when she struggled to step in front of the camera, having to put on the Mandy Dingle persona despite her immense grief.

She has found support from her partner Al and her co-stars, including Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle) and Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle). Holding back tears, Lisa expressed her gratitude for the support from her friends at Emmerdale, particularly the “Dingle sisters,” who share a dressing room with her. “I can’t thank those girls enough. There are six of us, and everyone in that room has been a godsend beyond words. They have given me the energy to keep filming. They have been a great therapy,” she said.

Lisa was so close to Robin that she was asked to collect an award on his behalf at the British LGBT Awards. Reflecting on this, she said, “It feels weird. I should be ringing him and going, ‘Hi babe, do you like my makeup?’ That’s what I used to do. I’ve lost that.” Lisa hopes that Robin’s tragedy will raise awareness about mental health issues within the gay community, emphasizing that it needs to be spoken about. “We want gay men and women to know they can talk, they are not alone, they are loved, they are worthy,” she concluded.