EMMERDALE star Lisa Riley revealed she needed therapy following her best friend Robin Windsor’s death.

Lisa, 48, danced with Robin when she competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2012.

Fans were heartbroken when pro dancer Robin died in February 2024, aged 44.

Speaking to OK! Magazine, Lisa shared: “I’d never had therapy since losing my mum in 2012.

“However, with Robin, I had to start having therapy. It really does work.

“I lost mum, then Robin, and two and half months after Robin we lost my aunt suddenly when she was on holiday.

“She died having dinner. It was awful.”

Continuing, Lisa described portraying Mandy Dingle on the ITV soap as her “coping mechanism”.

She said: ‘I lost my best friend. I’m so lucky with our dressing room crew at work.

“Without those girls, some days, I wouldn’t be able to carry on.

“I put the wig on, the make-up and the costume and be funny, but my heart’s hurting.

“My husband-to-be Al has been amazing, but yes, I lost my gay best friend. He and I were Velcro together.”

Lisa added: “I put Mandy Dingle’s lashes on and kept going – that’s exactly what I did with my mum. That was my coping mechanism.”

When Robin’s death was announced, a devastated Lisa shared a poignant tribute on Instagram.

The actress wrote: “My bestie, my robin, my angel… now our forever angel, who is loved, will always be loved, forever in my heart… my very broken heart.”

Strictly paid tribute to Robin and past contestant Dave Myers in the 2024 launch show.

Hairy Bikers star Dave, who took part in 2013, passed away in February 2024 aged 66 after a battle with cancer.

Taking to X, one emotional Strictly fan wrote: “Oh the dedications to Dave and Robin at the end” alongside tearful emojis.

Another added: “Oh heck the Dave Myers and Robin Windsor tributes at the end took my breath away a bit.”

A third tweeted: “Nice touch there at the end of #Strictly. Remembering Dave Myers and Robin Windsor.”