Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor enjoyed a romance with Marcus Collins prior to his tragic death and now, the X Factor star has paid tribute to his ex-partner

Robin Windsor found love with Marcus Collins in 2013.

On Tuesday (February 20), it was announced the Strictly Come Dancing star had tragically passed away aged 44. Marcus, who finished runner up on The X Factor in 2011, has now paid tribute to his ex-partner.

Taking to Instagram, Marcus shared a trio of shots snapped during their relationship. He wrote: “The World just got a lot less sparkly. Robin You were so loved.”

Marcus and Robin’s love story began after the Crosby singer spotted a photo of the professional dancer on the cover of Gay Times. Recalling one of their first interactions, Robin said: “Marcus Tweeted me to say ‘You’re looking really good, well done’!”

But this wasn’t the first time the pair had come into contact. The dancer explained: “We’d first met at ITV studios a few years ago, when I passed Marcus in the corridor and asked for a photo because he was very handsome. From then on there was no contact whatsoever til I appeared on the GT cover.”

They began a relationship and appeared on the cover of Gay Times the following year. Before their first social media interaction, both Robin and Marcus were dealing with recent breakups.

During their interview with Gay Times, the Strictly star explained: “After my last relationship ended I was on the rebound and on the warpath thinking, I must find a boyfriend.” He revealed that Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, his dance partner on the BBC show in 2013, was the one who told him to focus on something other than men.

“Deborah Meaden told me to get myself together, concentrate on work, forget about men and enjoy life,” Robin recalled. “As soon as I did that, Marcus came along.”

Marcus added: “I’d been single for two months and forgot about relationships as the end of the last one left me a bit downhearted. I tried dating and it wasn’t really for me, but I didn’t send Robin that message with any expectation that he’d message me back.”

The couple appeared to be going from strength to strength in their relationship and even discussed their future wedding. Speaking to OK!, Robin said: “We’ve talked about what our ideal wedding would be like to get some insight into what the other is thinking.

“Our dream wedding would be somewhere like Downton Abbey, something fabulous in a British estate. We both know where this is heading and that this is for the long term. It’s a case of being the right time.

Robin added: “I’ve always wanted to get married to the person I love and that fairytale is getting closer every day.” The couple parted ways in early 2015 but rekindled later that year. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be for Robin and Marcus as they officially split once again in 2016.