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

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

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

However, while it has actually been assumed that Strictly specialists should earn a quite cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for the majority of it’s a wholly various story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have actually shared their struggles with stacking financial obligations and money woes, with some even dealing with 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 love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the extreme financial problems they had just recently experienced are believed to have actually lagged their split.

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

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

However, last year, the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being hit by money troubles, with Ben laying bare their financial troubles in court.

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

Giving evidence throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had mishandled the handling of their vehicle insurance coverage policy and informed how he was ‘fighting to save his relationship and home’.

A pal of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‘The past 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 chosen to move forward as different people.

‘Those near to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out however for now it’s over and it appears 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 during the Covid pandemic.

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

In 2015 the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being hit by money problems, with Ben laying bare their financial problems in court (envisioned in 2021)

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

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

‘I have actually got credit cards 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 business was listed to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, but the action was suspended nine days later and stopped 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 successfully ₤ 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 actually still not been filed and are now nearly 29 months past due.

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

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

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

AJ Pritchard

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

But AJ has since shed light on the money problems some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into financial obligation when his dance trip was cancelled in 2020

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

While the star had formerly intended to start a new period of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance tour, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

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

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

‘We didn’t make money, myself or Curtis, but 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 appreciate it. I maybe didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in but, hello, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his friends believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is no place near that.

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

‘I believe openness is a favorable thing in this day and age, however many people do not truly wish to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I think individuals 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 ways.’

After leaving programs such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a number of huge cash deals and AJ says some individuals have no concept how to deal with that type of amount of money.

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

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

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his good friends believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly difficult I believe in our market, the show business and a great deal of other markets right now due to the fact that a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested cash, from my really first salary on Strictly I have actually always had that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work in six months time, I do have money there that I can draw on if I need it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are always jobs out there. It’s simply sometimes needing to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is tough but you do need to adapt often.

‘It’s essential that people go into these big shows that they’re delighting in but 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 confessed he is no various and is frequently snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s noticed the remarkable boost in daily items.

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

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

‘Even when inflation boils 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 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 just ₤ 879 in his company’s company account

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

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February last year, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his company had not traded for some time and according to Companies House Records was dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, however owed lenders ₤ 15,000, meaning it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

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

The company had funnelled incomes from a ‘wide range of contracts to supply performing arts services within the media industry’, documentation said.

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

Robin formerly told how he was paid ₤ 100,000 a year throughout his time on Strictly which pertained to 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 some time (visualized on the show in 2013)

He likewise recalled one time he earned ‘ridiculous cash’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were as soon as 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 two minutes.’

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

He stated: ‘All of an unexpected, I was earning cash I had only dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just 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, everybody wants a little piece of you.’

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

Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was when thought about a preferred amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was significantly sacked by bosses following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later confirmed and regretted his actions versus Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the occasions 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 appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s only best for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the scenario.

‘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 want the Strictly family nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the show, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances on the program, 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 cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

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

Since then, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also earned a reported ₤ 200,000 fee for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For many 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.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 wage before she left the show in 2022, and given 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, 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 noted as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she set up with her husband Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has noted possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money offer to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘confidence enhancing’ underwear variety, and she and other half Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

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

And Oti has only contributed to her fortune in current months by appearing on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! where she was supposedly 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 moneyed in with a string of stage roles

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his automobile while trying to kickstart his performing profession

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

His company Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its newest properties with ₤ 42,234 staying after bills.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his cars and truck while attempting to kickstart his performing profession, while managing it with a workplace job.

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

‘I spent loads of time sleeping in my cars and truck – essentially living out of my automobile – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these easy, showbiz, attractive lives and it’s not like that.

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

‘I was essentially searching in my wallet going, I have actually simply been fired from another task. I’ve got 4 lessons tomorrow; I already can’t spend for 2 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 have to give you the cash on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have capitalized their joint weight loss in the last few years, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe

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

James has actually 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 cashed in on their joint weight reduction in the last few years, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe.

The set sold their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have actually since downsized to a home more ‘appropriate’ for their child Ella.

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC