How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Wound Up In Debt

For audiences tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be right in presuming that its stars need to be making a substantial fortune.

Whether it be the vigorous hours of training, or being an on-screen fixture for weeks on end, the program’s professional dancers have assisted make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly experts need to make a quite cent, and years of success, through their time on the program, for most it’s a completely various story.

Pros who have bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in recent years have shared their battles with stacking debts and money troubles, with some even facing the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the most recent stars to be struck by the infamous ‘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 lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to expose the reality about how for lots of, the cash 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 difficulties are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (visualized on the show in 2013)

Kristina previously appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headlines when she began a love with her star partner Ben Cohen.

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

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

Giving proof during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had bungled the handling of their cars and truck insurance policy and informed how he was ‘combating to conserve his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple told the Mail he said: ‘The past 6 months have been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have actually picked to move forward as separate people.

‘Those near them who understand them as a couple had 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 entrusted to crippling financial obligations after they tilled every penny 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 whatever – to lose my automobiles and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

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

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

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

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got a service financial obligation because of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

The business was noted to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, however the action was suspended 9 days later 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, considering future liabilities, in its last represent the period ending on July 31, 2020.

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

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

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

A fifth business 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 likewise nearly 29 months past due, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

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

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

While the star had formerly hoped to start a brand-new age of dance success by leaving the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and brother Curtis into financial obligation.

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

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own tour and the trip was cut short. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I seemed 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 get paid, myself or Curtis, but we paid all of our dancers. It’s a hard choice to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own business.

‘They absolutely did value it. I possibly didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in but, hey, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his buddies think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is nowhere near that.

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

‘I think openness is a favorable thing in this day and age, but the majority of people do not actually desire to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I think people are interested by money. People love to see numbers and enjoy to see good things, and a lot of times you need to live within your own ways.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a number of big money offers and AJ says some individuals have no concept how to handle that sort of amount of money.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a and have established ‘utilizing our own cash’ a monetary investment business called FINT to assist to ‘inform’ individuals.

AJ became very open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars need to learn how to ‘adapt’ their career.

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his good friends 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 tough I believe in our industry, the entertainment market and a great deal of other markets today since a great deal of people are being laid off. It does use your psychological health if you don’t have that next task.

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

‘And at the end of the day, there are always tasks out there. It’s just often needing to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is tough but you do have to adjust in some cases.

‘It is necessary that individuals go into these huge programs 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, individuals are dealing with the cost of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no various and is regularly snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s discovered the dramatic increase in everyday products.

He discussed: ‘Every single day I’m reminded reality. I brought 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 income. That’s the real life.

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

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

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in a remarkable ₤ 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 simply ₤ 879 in his company’s organization account.

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm had actually not traded for some time and according to Companies House Records was dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The business Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, but owed financial institutions ₤ 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 company, which was repaid.

The business had actually carried profits from a ‘wide range of agreements to provide performing arts services within the media industry’, paperwork said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been dealing with a Fred Olsen Cruise – alongside fellow Strictly professional 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 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 a long time (pictured on the program in 2013)

He likewise remembered 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 two 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 said: ‘All of a sudden, I was generating income I had only dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply 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, everybody wants a little piece of you.’

Discussing 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 entered into a ‘steady decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was drastically sacked by bosses last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was once considered a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was dramatically sacked by managers following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous celeb partner Zara McDermott.

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

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the occasions that led to 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 program

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

‘While respecting the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t enabled 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 talk about at this time, but I am devoted 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 show, with personalised 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 actually cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

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

Since then, she has appeared as 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! last year

For numerous fans, Oti is thought about 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 show in 2022, and considering that her exit has accumulated a big fortune with a string of effective 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, contributing 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 other half Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually listed assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its most recent accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money offer to work together with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence boosting’ 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 four private business, which they co-own. including the residential or commercial property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties since in 2015.

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

Kevin Clifton

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

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his car while trying to kickstart his carrying out career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has required to the stage, carrying out 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 staying after costs.

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t always been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his car while trying to start his performing career, while managing it with an office task.

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

‘I spent loads of time oversleeping my automobile – basically living out of my vehicle – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People believe we live these easy, showbiz, glamorous lives and it’s not like that.

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

‘I was generally looking in my wallet going, I have actually simply been fired from another task. I’ve got 4 lessons tomorrow; I currently can’t pay for 2 of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the instructor and state,” Oh, there’s been a problem at the bank. I’m going to need to give you the cash on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have actually cashed in on their joint weight-loss in the last few 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 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 actually cashed in on their joint weight-loss in recent years, establishing a fitness website 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 because downsized 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 recently had ₤ 774,023 in possessions and ₤ 465,002 after bills.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC