How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have actually Wound Up In Debt

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

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

However, while it has been presumed that Strictly specialists should make a quite penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for many it’s an entirely various story.

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

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

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

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

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

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

Giving proof during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had made a mess of the handling of their vehicle insurance coverage and told how he was ‘fighting to conserve his relationship and home’.

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

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

The couple were left with crippling financial obligations 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 fight not to lose everything – to lose my cars 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 cash woes, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court (pictured in 2021)

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

‘We’re in business together so the problem 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 have actually got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a company debt because of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

The company was listed to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, but the action was suspended nine days later on and stopped 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 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 represent the year ending in July 2021 have still not been submitted 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 set up 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 three other individuals was also incorporated and willingly struck off on the exact same dates.

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

AJ Pritchard

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

But AJ has since clarify the money issues some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into debt 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 actually previously wanted to start a new period of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and brother Curtis into financial obligation.

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

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own tour and the tour was cut short. We paid all of our dancers because, personally, I felt like that was the ideal 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 decision to be made, however that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

‘They absolutely did value it. I possibly didn’t value the financial obligation that I was left in but, hi, 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 explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is nowhere near that.

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

‘I think openness is a favorable thing in this day and age, but many people don’t actually desire to speak about their financial resources.

‘And I believe individuals are fascinated by cash. People love to see numbers and like to see nice things, and a lot of times you need to live within your own means.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a number of big money deals and AJ says some people have no concept how to handle that kind of sum of money.

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

AJ ended up being extremely open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars need to find out how to ‘adjust’ their profession.

AJ said it is hard when a great deal 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 hard I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other markets today since 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 extremely first salary on Strictly I have actually constantly had that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job in 6 months time, I do have cash 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 simply often needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is difficult but you do need to adapt in some cases.

‘It’s crucial that individuals go into these huge 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 cost of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no different and is regularly snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s noticed the significant boost in daily products.

He explained: ‘Every single day I’m brought back to truth. I brought up at the petrol 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 resembled, ‘What 10p more expensive from yesterday to today’, like that’s insane. I think individuals forget, the expense of living and inflation’s increased.

‘Even when inflation comes down, it doesn’t suggest that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be hard for a great deal of people 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 passed away with just ₤ 879 in his company’s business account

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with just ₤ 879 in his company’s service 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 company had 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 nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, however owed lenders ₤ 15,000, suggesting 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 company had actually transported earnings from a ‘wide variety of contracts to provide performing arts services within the media market’, documents said.

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 informed 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 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 show in 2013)

He also remembered one time he earned ‘silly money’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were when paid ₤ 10,000 each to remain in a luxury 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 first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was making money I had actually just dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just from Strictly but 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 piece of you.’

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin said he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being allowed to return that he could not bear to see it, and he entered into a ‘consistent decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by employers in 2015 following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott

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

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

The dancer later on verified and regretted his actions against Zara.

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

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

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

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s only ideal for the sake of the program that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to provide a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am not able to discuss at this time, however I am committed 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 program, Graziano tried to cash on his appearances on the program, with customised video messages on Cameo.

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

And the stars who have capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For lots of 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

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

For numerous fans, Oti is considered among Strictly’s most effective 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 program in 2022, and considering that her exit has actually accumulated a big fortune with a string of effective TV gigs.

Ever since, 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 other half Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually noted assets 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 improving’ underwear range, and she and spouse Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

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

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

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 stage functions

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t always been simple, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his car while trying to start his performing 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 staying after expenses.

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his automobile while attempting to start 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 cars and truck and then I can pay for 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

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

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

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

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the instructor and say,” Oh, there’s been a problem 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 cashed in on their joint weight loss recently, establishing a physical 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 doing the same 2 years lateer.

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

The couple have actually capitalized their joint weight reduction recently, setting up a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have actually given that scaled down to a home more ‘suitable’ 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 bills.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC