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 assuming that its stars should be earning a significant fortune.

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

However, while it has actually been assumed that Strictly experts need to make a quite cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for many it’s a wholly various story.

Pros who have bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have shared their struggles with stacking debts and cash troubles, with some even facing the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff end up being the most recent stars to be hit by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the extreme financial difficulties they had actually recently experienced are thought to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to reveal the truth about how for numerous, 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 (envisioned on the show in 2013)

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

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

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

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

A friend of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‘The past 6 months have been hell for them and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have selected to go forward as different individuals.

‘Those close 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 appears like there’s no going back.’

The couple were left with debilitating financial obligations after they ploughed 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 everything – to lose my automobiles and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being hit by money troubles, with Ben laying bare their financial concerns in court (imagined in 2021)

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

‘We stay in business together so the problem is that we opened the service before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is just another issue for me to deal with.

‘I’ve got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got a business debt due to the fact that of Covid. It’s just another problem.’

The business was noted to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, but the action was suspended nine days later and terminated on April 28, 2023.

Records also expose that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was effectively ₤ 6,633 in the red, considering future liabilities, in its last accounts for the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

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

Another company 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 filing accounts.

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

A 5th business called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise almost 29 months past due, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

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

AJ initially rose to fame as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic.

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

Talking to MailOnline, AJ shed light on the cash woes some Strictly stars can deal with after leaving the show.

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the trip was cut brief. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I felt like that was the right thing to do. We wound up with a barrel costs which came out of our own pocket.

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

‘They definitely did value it. I perhaps didn’t value the financial obligation that I was left in but, hello, it’s a decision that was made.’

AJ said it is hard when a lot 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 stated: ‘I believe a great deal of individuals anticipate you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and immediately be a millionaire. Once you have actually paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a limited company, that’s not even close.

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

‘And I think individuals are fascinated by money. People love to see numbers and enjoy to see great things, and a lot of times you require to live within your own means.’

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

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a difference’ and have set up ‘using our own money’ a monetary investment business called FINT to assist to ‘inform’ individuals.

AJ became very open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars have to learn how to ‘adapt’ their profession.

AJ said it is hard when a lot 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 nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s really tough I believe in our industry, the home entertainment industry and a lot of other industries today because a lot of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my very first salary on Strictly I have actually always had actually that cash 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 require it.

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

‘It’s important that people go into these huge shows that they’re enjoying but they have an occupation 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 cost of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is regularly snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s discovered the remarkable boost in everyday items.

He explained: ‘Each and every single day I’m brought back to truth. I pulled up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to decisions that have been made much higher up than my income. That’s the real life.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more expensive from yesterday to today’, like that’s crazy. I believe individuals forget, the cost 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 tough 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 simply ₤ 879 in his business’s organization account

Despite drawing in an outstanding ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’s service 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 firm had 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 submitted accounts, however owed lenders ₤ 15,000, indicating 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 repaid.

The company had actually funnelled profits from a ‘wide array of contracts to offer performing arts services within the media market’, documents stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been dealing with a Fred Olsen Cruise – together with fellow Strictly professional Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published images 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 came 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 not traded for a long time (pictured on the show in 2013)

He also recalled one time he earned ‘silly money’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once paid ₤ 10,000 each to remain in a high-end resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an event. Our dance lasted 2 minutes.’

He remembered in September 2022 that the ‘best’ year of his financial life was 2010, ‘my first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was generating income I had actually just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply from Strictly but from work off the back of the show such as the trip and private efficiencies.

‘When you’re on prime-time TV, everyone desires a little slice 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 ‘steady decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was drastically sacked by employers last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was when considered a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later confirmed and regretted his actions against Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that caused my departure from Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing rich list: The professional dancers waltzing all the way to the bank after making 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 just ideal for the sake of the program 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 sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am not able to go over at this time, however I am committed to being strong for my household and good friends. I wish the Strictly household nothing but success in the future.’

Following his departure from the show, 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 refer to himself as a ‘expert dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have actually capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For many fans, Oti is thought about among 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 also earned a reported ₤ 200,000 cost for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

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

Ever since, she has actually appeared as 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 also worked as an expert dancer on Strictly’s German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

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

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

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in four personal companies, which they co-own. including the home firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties since in 2015.

And Oti has actually only contributed to her fortune in current 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 formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, exposing 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 stage, performing in Strictly Ballroom, Rock of Ages and War of the Worlds.

His company Supreme Dance declared ₤ 104,993 in its newest possessions with ₤ 42,234 remaining after expenses.

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his car while trying to kickstart his carrying out profession, while managing it with a workplace task.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll sleep in my automobile and then I can manage 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I spent loads of time sleeping in my vehicle – essentially living out of my automobile – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People believe 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 just been fired from another job. I have actually got four 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 a problem 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 actually cashed in on their joint weight loss in current years, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe

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

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

The couple have actually cashed in on their joint weight loss recently, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually given that 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 recently had ₤ 774,023 in properties and ₤ 465,002 after bills.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC