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Robin Windsor quit Strictly Come Dancing over wheelchair fears


Robin Windsor would have ended up in a wheelchair if he hadn’t quit ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’

The professional dancer made the heartbreaking decision to leave the BBC One show after a slipped disc in his back left him paralysed for three days.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "I have a slipped disc in my back and the nerve is exposed, causing agonising pains shooting down my leg.

"A week ago I was paralysed on the floor of my friend’s house as the pain was so bad. I was there for three or four days.

"I couldn’t risk going ahead [with the show]. It was a heartbreaking decision but I had no choice. If the slipped disc had popped out while I was dancing, I could have ended up with permanent nerve damage and been in a wheelchair."

The 34-year-old hunk – who has been part of the line-up since 2010 – is determined to return to the competition next year because he doesn’t want to leave permanently without winning the show at least once.

He explained: "Injuries go hand in hand with working as a dancer. I have to listen to my body. Now I’m just going to have my operation and focus on getting better for next year. I have to come back because I haven’t won the glitterball trophy yet."

Meanwhile, Robin danced his way into the semi-final with former ‘Emmerdale’ star Lisa Riley in 2012, but only managed to make it to the fifth week with ‘Dragons’ Den’ investor Deborah Meaden last year.