How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have actually Ended up In Debt

For audiences tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be ideal in assuming that its stars should be earning a significant fortune.

Whether it be the vigorous hours of training, or being an on-screen fixture for weeks on end, the program’s expert dancers have actually assisted make the series a captivating watch throughout the autumn months.

However, while it has been assumed that Strictly professionals should earn a quite cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for a lot of it’s an entirely different story.

Pros who have bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor recently have actually shared their battles with piling financial obligations and money woes, with some even dealing with the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be hit by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the extreme monetary troubles they had recently experienced are believed to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to expose the fact about how for numerous, the cash stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have wound up in debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s monetary difficulties are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (visualized on the program in 2013)

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headlines when she started a romance with her celebrity partner Ben Cohen.

However, last year, the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being struck by cash concerns, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court.

The level of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon circumstances – throughout a court appearance last September when Kristina, 47, was captured driving without insurance coverage.

Giving evidence during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had bungled the handling of their automobile insurance plan and told how he was ‘fighting to save his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The previous 6 months have actually been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have actually selected to go forward as different people.

‘Those close to them who understand them as a couple had actually hoped they would have the ability to work things out but for now it’s over and it appears like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted to crippling financial obligations after they tilled every cent they had into a yoga studio which plunged into crisis throughout the Covid pandemic.

In a tortuously frank admission Ben told the court: ‘I get up every day and I combat not to lose everything – to lose my cars and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being hit by cash troubles, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court (imagined in 2021)

When questioned about the strains on his and Kristina’s relationship, he stated: ‘We’re still cohabiting. We remain in it economically.

‘We’re in company together so the issue is that we opened business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all truthfully this is simply another problem for me to deal with.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got an organization financial obligation because of Covid. It’s simply another issue.’

The company was listed to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, but the action was suspended 9 days later on and terminated on April 28, 2023.

Records likewise expose that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was effectively ₤ 6,633 in the red, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last accounts for the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have actually still not been filed and are now nearly 29 months past due.

Another company called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is likewise owned by the Soo Yoga Group, was set up in December 2021 and dissolved by a voluntary strike off in February this year without ever filing accounts.

A 4th business called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other individuals was likewise integrated and voluntarily struck off on the very same dates.

A fifth company called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are also nearly 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially increased to popularity as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic (pictured with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since clarify the cash problems some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ first rose to popularity as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually previously hoped to kickstart a brand-new era of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic required him to cancel his organized dance tour, plunging himself and brother Curtis into financial obligation.

Speaking with MailOnline, AJ shed light on the cash troubles some Strictly stars can face after leaving the program.

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own trip and the tour was cut short. We paid all of our dancers because, personally, I seemed like that was the ideal thing to do. We wound up with a VAT expense which came out of our own pocket.

‘We didn’t earn money, myself or Curtis, however we paid all of our dancers. It’s a difficult choice to be made, however that’s what it is when you are running your own business.

‘They certainly did appreciate it. I perhaps didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in however, hi, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his good friends think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is no place near that.

The dancer said: ‘I believe a lot of people expect you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and quickly be a millionaire. Once you have actually paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a minimal business, that’s not even close.

‘I think openness is a positive thing in this day and age, but many people do not really want to discuss their financial resources.

‘And I believe people are interested by money. People like to see numbers and like to see great things, and a great deal of times you require to live within your own methods.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were tossed into a number of huge money deals and AJ states some people have no concept how to deal with that sort of amount of cash.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a difference’ and have actually set up ‘using our own money’ a financial investment firm called FINT to help to ‘educate’ individuals.

AJ became very open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars have to find out how to ‘adapt’ their profession.

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his pals believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly tough I believe in our market, the home entertainment market and a great deal of other industries today since a lot of people are being laid off. It does use your psychological health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested cash, from my really first wage on Strictly I have actually constantly had actually that cash invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work in 6 months time, I do have cash there that I can make use of if I require it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are always jobs out there. It’s just in some cases having to change what it is you believe you are going to do and adapt a little bit. is hard but you do have to adapt sometimes.

‘It is very important that people go into these big shows that they’re enjoying however they have a profession behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both expert dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, individuals are dealing with the cost of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s discovered the dramatic increase in everyday products.

He explained: ‘Each and every single day I’m brought back to reality. I brought up at the petrol pump today and the diesel was 10p more pricey due to decisions that have been made much higher up than my income. That’s the real life.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more pricey from the other day to today’, like that’s insane. I believe individuals forget, the expense of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t mean that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be tough for a lot of individuals this year and I do not think it’s going to get any easier.’

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in an outstanding ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ 879 in his business’s organization account

Despite drawing in an excellent ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with simply ₤ 879 in his company’s service account.

The dancer was found dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his company had actually not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was dealing with an ‘active proposition’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed practically ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, but owed lenders ₤ 15,000, suggesting it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

At the height of his celebrity in 2015 and 2016 he held more than ₤ 23,000 in the business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the business, which was repaid.

The business had actually transported earnings from a ‘wide array of agreements to provide carrying out arts services within the media industry’, paperwork stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – together with fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and posted photos of himself when the boat docked in South Africa.

Robin formerly told how he was paid ₤ 100,000 a year during his time on Strictly which concerned an end after the 12th series in 2014.

The dancer was found dead in a London hotel in February, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his company had not traded for some time (imagined on the show in 2013)

He likewise recalled one time he made ‘silly money’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once paid ₤ 10,000 each to remain in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an occasion. Our dance lasted 2 minutes.’

He kept in mind in September 2022 that the ‘best’ year of his monetary life was 2010, ‘my first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He stated: ‘All of a sudden, I was making money I had actually just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply from Strictly but from work off the back of the program such as the trip and personal efficiencies.

‘When you’re on prime-time TV, everyone wants a little slice of you.’

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin said he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he could not bear to view it, and he entered into a ‘steady decrease’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was dramatically sacked by employers in 2015 following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott

Following his departure from the program, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances on the program, with customised video messages on Cameo

Graziano was once considered a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was drastically sacked by employers following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later on confirmed and regretted his actions versus Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply are sorry for the events that resulted in my departure from Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing abundant list: The professional dancers waltzing all the way to the bank after making MILLIONS thanks to the show

‘My extreme enthusiasm and determination to win might have impacted my training program.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t permitted to provide a quote to the online newspaper article, and I take on board the sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to go over at this time, but I am dedicated to being strong for my friends and family. I want the Strictly household nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the show, Graziano tried to cash on his appearances on the show, with customised video messages on Cameo.

The dancer charged $100 (₤ 78) for a video message, and continued to refer to himself as a ‘professional dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For numerous fans, Oti is considered one of Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Ever since, she has appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and likewise made a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For many fans, Oti is considered among Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champion for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 salary before she left the program in 2022, and since her exit has actually amassed a big fortune with a string of effective TV gigs.

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, adding to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before signing up with the Strictly lineup, Oti likewise worked as a professional dancer on Strictly’s German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

Oti is listed as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she set up with her other half Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has noted possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its latest accounts.

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money deal to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence boosting’ underclothing range, and she and other half Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in 4 personal business, which they co-own. including the home firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties since in 2015.

And Oti has just included to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! where she was apparently paid a ₤ 200,000 cost.

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champion in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the show in 2020, has actually cashed in with a string of phase functions

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his car while attempting to start his carrying out career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has required to the phase, performing in Strictly Ballroom, Rock of Ages and War of the Worlds.

His firm Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its latest assets with ₤ 42,234 remaining after expenses.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his cars and truck while attempting to kickstart his carrying out career, while juggling it with an office job.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‘If there’s no one there, I’ll oversleep my cars and truck and after that I can manage two of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my vehicle – basically living out of my car – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People believe we live these easy, showbiz, attractive lives and it’s not like that.

‘There’s been times where I was simply getting fired from job after task – typical office jobs, simply trying to sustain my dancer profession.

‘I was essentially searching in my wallet going, I have actually simply been fired from another job. I have actually got 4 lessons tomorrow; I already can’t spend for 2 of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the instructor and state, » Oh, there’s been a problem at the bank. I’m going to need to give you the cash on my next lesson. » James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have actually cashed in on their joint weight reduction in current years, setting up a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his partner Ola following fit two years lateer.

James has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, returned a few years later on for the All Stars variation and won Dancing On Ice in 2019.

The couple have capitalized their joint weight loss recently, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe.

The set sold their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have since scaled down to a home more ‘suitable’ for their child Ella.

Much of their income is funnelled through their firm James and Ola Dance Academy which most just recently had ₤ 774,023 in possessions and ₤ 465,002 after expenses.

They earn additional money by selling signed photos for ₤ 9.50 while Ola provides dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC