How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Ended up In Debt

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

Whether it be the determined hours of training, or being an on-screen component for weeks on end, the show’s have actually assisted make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been assumed that Strictly specialists must earn a pretty cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for most it’s a completely various story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have shared their struggles with piling financial obligations and cash issues, with some even dealing with the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be hit by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the serious monetary problems they had actually just recently experienced are thought to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the reality about how for lots of, the cash stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

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

The degree of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon scenarios – 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 bungled the handling of their vehicle insurance policy and told how he was ‘fighting to save his relationship and home’.

A good friend of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‘The past six months have been hell for them and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have 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 left with debilitating financial obligations after they tilled every cent they had into a yoga studio which plunged into crisis during the Covid pandemic.

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

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

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

‘We’re in service together so the issue is that we opened business before Covid and we got the worst seriousness of it and in all truthfully this is simply another issue for me to handle.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a company debt 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 and ceased on April 28, 2023.

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

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

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

A 4th company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other individuals was likewise included and willingly struck off on the exact same dates.

A 5th business called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 in the red, taking into account future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are also almost 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ first increased to fame as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has given that clarify the money woes some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into financial obligation when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ first increased to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly wanted to start a brand-new era of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic forced him to cancel his planned dance tour, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into debt.

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 brief. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I seemed like that was the best thing to do. We ended up with a VAT bill which came out of our own pocket.

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

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

AJ said it is hard when a great deal 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 said: ‘I think a lot of people anticipate 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 limited business, that’s not even close.

‘I think transparency is a favorable thing in this day and age, however the majority of people don’t truly wish to speak about their financial resources.

‘And I think people are intrigued by cash. People like 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 tossed into a number of big cash deals and AJ says some people have no idea how to handle that type of amount of money.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‘want to make a distinction’ and have set up ‘utilizing our own money’ a financial investment business called FINT to assist to ‘educate’ individuals.

AJ ended up being really open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars have to learn how to ‘adjust’ their profession.

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 no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s really hard I believe in our industry, the entertainment industry and a great deal of other markets today because a lot of people are being laid off. It does play on your psychological health if you do not have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested cash, from my very first pay check on Strictly I have actually always had that cash invested into different 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 constantly tasks out there. It’s just in some cases having to alter what it is you believe you are going to do and adjust a little bit. Adapting is hard but you do have to adapt sometimes.

‘It’s essential that individuals go into these big shows that they’re enjoying however they have a profession 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 different and is regularly snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s discovered the dramatic boost in daily products.

He explained: ‘Every single day I’m reminded reality. I pulled up at the petrol pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to choices that have been made much greater up than my paycheck. That’s the genuine world.

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

‘Even when inflation comes down, it doesn’t indicate that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be hard for a great deal of individuals this year and I don’t think it’s going to get any easier.’

Robin Windsor

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

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with just ₤ 879 in his company’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 dealing with an ‘active proposition’ to be struck off.

The business Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, but owed creditors ₤ 15,000, indicating 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 business, which was paid back.

The business had channelled incomes from a ‘variety of contracts to offer carrying out arts services within the media industry’, documents stated.

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

Robin previously told 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 company had not traded for a long time (visualized on the show in 2013)

He also recalled one time he earned ‘ridiculous money’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay in a luxury 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 monetary life was 2010, ‘my very first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

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

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

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin stated he became so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he couldn’t bear to view it, and he went into a ‘constant decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was significantly sacked by managers 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 personalised video messages on Cameo

Graziano was when thought about a preferred among Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was considerably sacked by employers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous celeb partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later validated and regretted his actions versus Zara.

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

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

‘My intense enthusiasm and determination to win may have affected my training routine.

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s just best for the sake of the show that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t permitted to use a quote to the online newspaper article, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to go over at this time, however I am devoted to being strong for my friends and family. I wish 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 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 lots of fans, Oti is thought about one of Strictly’s most successful 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 fee for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

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

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 wage before she left the show in 2022, and since her exit has accumulated a big fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

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

Before joining the Strictly lineup, Oti likewise worked as an expert dancer on Strictly’s German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

Oti is listed as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she established with her partner Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money deal to work together with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence enhancing’ underwear variety, and she and husband Marius also share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

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

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

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 functions

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his car while attempting to kickstart 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 company Supreme Dance declared ₤ 104,993 in its latest assets with ₤ 42,234 remaining after bills.

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his automobile while attempting to start his performing career, while handling it with an office task.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s no one there, I’ll sleep in my vehicle and then I can manage 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested 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 simple, showbiz, attractive lives and it’s not like that.

‘There’s been times where I was just getting fired from task after job – regular office jobs, simply attempting to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was generally searching in my wallet going, I have actually just been fired from another job. I’ve got 4 lessons tomorrow; I currently can’t spend for two of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the teacher and state, » Oh, there’s been an issue at the bank. I’m going to need to give you the money on my next lesson. » James and Ola Jordan

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

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his partner Ola following match 2 years lateer.

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

The couple have capitalized their joint weight reduction in the last few years, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe.

The set offered their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have actually since scaled down to a home more ‘ideal’ 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 possessions and ₤ 465,002 after costs.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC