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

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be best in presuming that its stars should be earning a substantial fortune.

Whether it be the determined hours of training, or being an on-screen fixture for weeks on end, the show’s professional dancers have helped make the series a captivating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has been presumed that Strictly specialists need to earn a pretty cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for most it’s a wholly different story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor in the last few years have shared their struggles with piling debts and cash concerns, with some even facing the possibility of losing their homes.

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

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to expose the truth about how for many, the money stops as soon as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

However, in 2015, the couple shared worries that they could lose their home after being hit by money troubles, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court.

The degree of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon situations – during a court appearance 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 actually mishandled the handling of their automobile insurance coverage policy and told how he was ‘battling to save his relationship and home’.

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

‘Those near to them who understand them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out however for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted to crippling debts after they ploughed 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 automobiles and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

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

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

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

‘I’ve got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got an organization financial obligation due to the fact that of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

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

Records also reveal that a food services company 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 represent the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The company’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have still not been submitted and are now almost 29 months past due.

Another business 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 fourth company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other individuals was also included and voluntarily struck off on the same dates.

A 5th business called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, considering future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise nearly 29 months overdue, 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 program simply months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since clarify the cash troubles some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into financial obligation when his dance trip was cancelled in 2020

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

While the star had formerly hoped to kickstart a new period of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic required him to cancel his scheduled dance tour, plunging himself and bro Curtis into debt.

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

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the trip was cut short. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I seemed like that was the right thing to do. We ended up with a barrel costs 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 tough choice to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

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

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

The dancer stated: ‘I think a lot of individuals anticipate you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and instantly be a millionaire. Once you have actually paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a restricted business, that’s not even close.

‘I believe openness is a positive thing in this day and age, but many people don’t really wish to talk about their .

‘And I believe people are fascinated by cash. People love to see numbers and love to see great things, and a great deal of times you require to live within your own means.’

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

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a distinction’ and have established ‘using our own cash’ a monetary investment firm called FINT to help to ‘educate’ individuals.

AJ ended up being very open about how often the TV reservations and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars have to find out how to ‘adjust’ their career.

AJ said it is hard when a great deal of his friends 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 actually tough I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other industries right now due to the fact that a lot of people are being laid off. It does play on your mental health if you do not have that next task.

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

‘And at the end of the day, there are always tasks out there. It’s just often having to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adjust a bit. Adapting is hard however you do have to adjust sometimes.

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

Every day, people are facing 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 explained: ‘Every day I’m reminded truth. I brought up at the gas pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to decisions that have been made much greater up than my paycheck. That’s the genuine world.

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

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

Robin Windsor

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

Despite drawing in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically passed away with just ₤ 879 in his business’s business account.

The dancer was found dead in a London hotel in February last year, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm had actually not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was facing an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The business Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, however owed financial institutions ₤ 15,000, indicating it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

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

The business had carried revenues from a ‘variety of contracts to provide performing arts services within the media industry’, documents said.

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

Robin previously 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 actually not traded for some time (imagined on the program in 2013)

He likewise recalled one time he made ‘ridiculous cash’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were when paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay in a high-end resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an event. Our dance lasted 2 minutes.’

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

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was making cash I had actually only dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply from Strictly however from work off the back of the program such as the tour and personal efficiencies.

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

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin stated he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he could not bear to watch it, and he entered into a ‘steady decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was when considered a preferred amongst Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was considerably sacked by bosses following claims of gross misconduct towards his former superstar partner Zara McDermott.

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

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that caused my departure from Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing rich list: The professional dancers waltzing all the way to the bank after earning MILLIONS thanks to the program

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

‘While respecting the BBC HR procedure, 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 level of sensitivity of the scenario.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, however I am committed to being strong for my family and buddies. I wish the Strictly family nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the program, Graziano tried 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 describe himself as a ‘expert dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

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

Oti Mabuse

For numerous fans, Oti is thought about among Strictly’s most effective 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 likewise earned a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For many fans, Oti is considered among 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 income before she left the program in 2022, and considering that her exit has actually amassed a substantial fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, she has actually looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was likewise a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The best Dancer, contributing to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before joining the Strictly lineup, Oti also 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 hubby Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually listed assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

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

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

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

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champ in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the program in 2020, has actually moneyed in with a string of stage roles

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his automobile while trying to kickstart his carrying out career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has actually 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 bills.

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his automobile while trying to kickstart his performing profession, while handling it with an office job.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll oversleep my vehicle and after that I can manage 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I spent loads of time oversleeping my vehicle – essentially living out of my cars and truck – 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 just getting fired from task after task – regular workplace jobs, simply attempting to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another task. I have actually got four lessons tomorrow; I currently can’t spend for two of them.

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and say,” Oh, there’s been an issue at the bank. I’m going to have to offer you the cash on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have actually capitalized their joint weight-loss recently, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his spouse Ola doing the same 2 years lateer.

James has 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 over the last few years, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair offered their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually because downsized 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 recently had ₤ 774,023 in assets and ₤ 465,002 after bills.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC