How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Ended up In Debt

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

Whether it be the vigorous 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 assumed that Strictly experts need to make a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the program, for most it’s a wholly different story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor recently have shared their battles with stacking financial obligations and cash issues, 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 infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the extreme monetary difficulties they had actually just recently experienced are believed to have been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to reveal the truth about how for numerous, the money 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 (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 celeb partner Ben Cohen.

However, last year, the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being hit by cash troubles, with Ben laying bare their monetary problems in court.

The level of the couple’s struggles were laid bare in uncommon scenarios – throughout a court look last September when Kristina, 47, was captured driving without insurance.

Giving proof throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had actually bungled the handling of their vehicle insurance plan and informed how he was ‘battling to save his relationship and home’.

A buddy of the couple informed the Mail he stated: ‘The past 6 months have been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have chosen to go forward as separate people.

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

The couple were entrusted to debilitating financial obligations after they ploughed every cent they had into a yoga studio which plunged into crisis during the Covid pandemic.

In a tortuously frank admission Ben informed the court: ‘I get up every day and I battle not to lose everything – to lose my cars and trucks and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being hit by money woes, with Ben laying bare their financial issues in court (pictured in 2021)

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

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

‘I have actually got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got a service financial obligation due to the fact that of Covid. It’s simply 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 ceased on April 28, 2023.

Records likewise expose that a food services company called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was efficiently ₤ 6,633 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last represent the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The company’s accounts for the year ending in July 2021 have actually still not been submitted and are now almost 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 dissolved by a voluntary strike off in February this year without ever submitting accounts.

A 4th business called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other individuals was likewise integrated and voluntarily struck off on the very same dates.

A fifth company called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 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 initially rose to fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic (pictured with Saffron Barker in 2019)

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

AJ first rose to popularity as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually formerly wished to kickstart a new age of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic forced him to cancel his organized dance tour, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into financial obligation.

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

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

‘They definitely did value it. I perhaps didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in however, hi, it’s a choice that was made.’

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

The dancer stated: ‘I believe 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 restricted business, that’s not even close.

‘I think transparency is a positive thing in this day and age, however many people don’t truly desire to discuss their finances.

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

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

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

AJ ended up being really open about how in some cases the TV reservations and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars need to discover how to ‘adjust’ their profession.

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his buddies 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 hard I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other industries right now due to the fact that a lot of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have actually invested cash, from my really first salary on Strictly I have actually constantly had actually that money invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a task in six months time, I do have cash there that I can make use of if I need it.

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

‘It is essential that people go into these huge shows that they’re enjoying 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 confessed he is no different and is routinely snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s observed the dramatic increase in daily products.

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

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

‘Even when inflation comes down, it doesn’t mean that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be difficult for a great deal of individuals this year and I do not believe it’s going to get any simpler.’

Robin Windsor

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

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

The dancer was found dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm 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 creditors ₤ 15,000, suggesting 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 directed incomes from a ‘wide array of contracts to provide carrying out arts services within the media market’, paperwork said.

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

Robin previously 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 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 (envisioned on the show in 2013)

He likewise recalled one time he earned ‘silly money’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once 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 2 minutes.’

He remembered in September 2022 that the ‘finest’ year of his financial life was 2010, ‘my very 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 simply from Strictly however from work off the back of the program such as the trip and personal performances.

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

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

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by managers in 2015 following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous celeb 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 once thought about a favourite among Strictly fans, but last year he was dramatically sacked by bosses following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later 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 led to my departure from Strictly.

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

‘My extreme passion and decision to win might have impacted my training program.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, 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 offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation.

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

Following his departure from the program, Graziano attempted to cash on his looks 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 capitalized 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 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and likewise made a reported ₤ 200,000 cost for her stint on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For numerous fans, Oti is considered one of 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 income before she left the show in 2022, and since her exit has amassed a big fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, she has looked like 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 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 noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its latest accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money deal to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘confidence increasing’ underclothing range, and she and husband Marius also share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

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

And Oti has just contributed 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 show in 2020, has moneyed in with a string of phase roles

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his vehicle while attempting to kickstart his performing career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has actually taken to the stage, performing in Strictly Ballroom, Rock of Ages and War of the Worlds.

His firm Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its latest possessions with ₤ 42,234 remaining after costs.

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his cars and truck while trying to kickstart his performing profession, while managing 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 two of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my cars and truck – essentially 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, just attempting to sustain my dancer profession.

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I have actually just been fired from another job. I’ve got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t spend for 2 of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the instructor and state,” 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 capitalized their joint weight loss in recent years, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his better 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 variation and won Dancing On Ice in 2019.

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

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

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC