How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Wound Up In Debt

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be ideal in assuming that its stars need to be earning a large 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 helped make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly experts should make 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 actually bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in recent years have shared their battles with piling financial obligations and cash troubles, with some even facing the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff end up being the most recent stars to be struck by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the extreme financial problems they had actually recently experienced are believed to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the reality about how for many, the money stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have actually ended up in financial obligation – as Kristina Rihanoff’s monetary troubles are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (envisioned on the program in 2013)

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as an expert from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she started a romance with her star partner Ben Cohen.

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

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

Giving evidence throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, admitted he had mishandled the handling of their vehicle insurance plan and told how he was ‘battling to conserve his relationship and home’.

A good friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The previous six 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 picked to move forward as separate people.

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

The couple were entrusted debilitating financial obligations after they tilled every penny 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 fears that they could lose their home after being struck by cash woes, with Ben laying bare their financial troubles in court (envisioned in 2021)

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

‘We stay in business together so the problem is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst seriousness of it and in all honestly this is simply another problem for me to handle.

‘I have actually got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a service financial obligation because of Covid. It’s just another problem.’

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

Records also reveal that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was successfully ₤ 6,633 at a loss, taking into account future liabilities, in its last accounts for the period ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s accounts for the year ending in July 2021 have still not been filed and are now almost 29 months overdue.

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

A fourth company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other individuals was also incorporated and voluntarily struck off on the very same dates.

A fifth business called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, taking into account future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise almost 29 months past due, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially increased to fame as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (visualized with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has given that shed light on the cash troubles some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance trip was cancelled in 2020

AJ initially rose to popularity as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually formerly hoped to start a brand-new age of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic required him to cancel his planned dance trip, plunging himself and brother Curtis into financial obligation.

Talking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash issues some Strictly stars can deal with after leaving the show.

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

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

‘They definitely did appreciate it. I possibly didn’t appreciate the financial obligation that I was left in however, hey, it’s a choice that was made.’

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

The dancer stated: ‘I think a lot of individuals 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 company, that’s not even close.

‘I believe openness is a favorable thing in this day and age, however many people don’t actually wish to discuss their financial resources.

‘And I believe individuals are interested by cash. People love to see numbers and love to see good things, and a great deal of times you need to live within your own methods.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a variety of huge money offers and AJ says some individuals have no concept how to deal with that type of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a difference’ and have actually set up ‘using our own cash’ a financial investment business called FINT to assist to ‘educate’ people.

AJ became extremely open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars need to discover how to ‘adjust’ their career.

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his pals think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly tough I believe in our market, the entertainment market and a lot of other industries today since a great deal of people are being laid off. It does play on your mental health if you do not have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have actually invested cash, from my very first wage on Strictly I have actually constantly had actually that cash invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job in 6 months time, I do have money there that I can draw on if I require it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are constantly jobs out there. It’s just in some cases having to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is hard but you do have to adapt in some cases.

‘It’s essential that individuals go into these huge programs that they’re taking pleasure in however they have an occupation behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both professional dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, individuals are dealing with the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s noticed the dramatic boost in daily items.

He described: ‘Every day I’m brought back to truth. I pulled up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more expensive due to decisions that have actually been made much greater up than my income. That’s the genuine world.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more pricey from yesterday to today’, like that’s insane. I think people forget, the cost of living and inflation’s increased.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it does not imply that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be difficult for a lot of people this year and I do not believe it’s going to get any much easier.’

Robin Windsor

Despite pulling in an excellent ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with simply ₤ 879 in his company’s organization account

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

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

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, however owed financial institutions ₤ 15,000, meaning 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 company and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was repaid.

The business had actually channelled incomes from a ‘wide array of agreements to supply performing arts services within the media market’, documents stated.

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

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

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm had actually not traded for a long time (pictured on the program in 2013)

He likewise remembered one time he earned ‘ridiculous cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were as soon as paid ₤ 10,000 each to remain in a high-end resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an event. Our dance lasted two minutes.’

He remembered in September 2022 that the ‘finest’ year of his monetary life was 2010, ‘my very first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was generating income I had just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply from Strictly however from work off the back of the show such as the tour and private efficiencies.

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

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin said he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being allowed to return that he couldn’t bear to watch it, and he went into a ‘consistent decrease’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was drastically sacked by bosses last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous celebrity partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was when considered a preferred among Strictly fans, but last year he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later verified and regretted his actions versus Zara.

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

Strictly Come Dancing rich list: The expert dancers waltzing all the method to the bank after making MILLIONS thanks to the program

‘My intense passion and determination to win may have impacted my training program.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only best for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t enabled to provide a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the situation.

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

Following his departure from the show, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances on the show, with personalised 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 capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For many fans, Oti is thought about one of Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also earned a reported ₤ 200,000 cost for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year

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

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 wage before she left the program in 2022, and considering that her exit has amassed a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, 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 also worked as a professional dancer on Strictly’s German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

Oti is noted as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she established with her partner Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has noted properties of ₤ 510,953, according to its most current accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money offer to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence enhancing’ underwear variety, and she and spouse Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of assets in 4 private business, which they co-own. including the residential or commercial property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in possessions since in 2015.

And Oti has only contributed to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! where she was supposedly paid a ₤ 200,000 fee.

Kevin Clifton

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

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his while trying to start his performing profession

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

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

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t always been simple, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his cars and truck while trying to kickstart his performing career, while juggling it with an office task.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll sleep in my automobile and then I can manage 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my cars and truck – generally living out of my car – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these easy, showbiz, glamorous lives and it’s not like that.

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

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

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the teacher and say,” Oh, there’s been a problem at the bank. I’m going to have 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 loss recently, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his other half Ola following suit two years lateer.

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

The couple have cashed in on their joint weight-loss in the last few years, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

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

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

They make money by offering signed images for ₤ 9.50 while Ola offers dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC