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

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

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

However, while it has been assumed that Strictly specialists must earn a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for a lot of it’s an entirely different story.

Pros who have actually bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have actually shared their battles with piling financial obligations and cash woes, with some even facing the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be hit by the notorious ‚Strictly curse‘ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the extreme financial problems they had recently experienced are thought to have actually lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars‘ incomes to reveal the truth 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 debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s financial troubles are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (imagined on the show in 2013)

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she started a romance with her star partner Ben Cohen.

However, last year, the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being struck by money concerns, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court.

The level of the couple’s battles were laid bare in unusual scenarios – 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 actually bungled the handling of their vehicle insurance coverage and told how he was ‚combating to conserve his relationship and home‘.

A pal of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‚The previous 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 picked to move forward as different individuals.

‚Those near to them who understand 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 entrusted 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 combat not to lose everything – to lose my automobiles and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.‘

Last year the couple shared worries that they could lose their home after being hit by cash woes, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court (pictured in 2021)

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

‚We stay 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 just another problem for me to handle.

‚I have actually got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got a business debt since of Covid. It’s just another problem.‘

The business was listed to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, however the action was suspended 9 days later and discontinued on April 28, 2023.

Records likewise reveal that a food services company called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was efficiently ₤ 6,633 at a loss, 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 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 filing accounts.

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

A 5th company called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, taking into account 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 fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since clarify the money troubles some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance trip was cancelled in 2020

AJ first increased to popularity as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually formerly intended to kickstart a new era of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his planned dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

Speaking with MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash woes some Strictly stars can face after leaving the program.

He said: ‚We had a company where we were running our own trip and the tour was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I felt like that was the ideal thing to do. We ended up with a barrel expense which came out of our own pocket.

‚We didn’t earn money, myself or Curtis, but 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 certainly did appreciate it. I perhaps didn’t appreciate the financial obligation that I was left in but, hey, it’s a decision that was made.‘

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his friends think he’s a ‚millionaire‘ after starring on Strictly, however, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that.

The dancer said: ‚I believe a great deal of people 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 restricted business, that’s not even close.

‚I think transparency is a positive thing in this day and age, but many people don’t actually desire to discuss their financial resources.

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

After leaving programs such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were tossed into a variety of big cash deals and AJ states some people have no idea how to deal with that type of amount of cash.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‚wish to make a difference‘ and have actually established ‚using our own cash‘ a financial investment firm called FINT to assist to ‚inform‘ individuals.

AJ became extremely open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars have to find out how to ‚adapt‘ their career.

AJ said it is hard when a great deal of his 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 actually hard I believe in our market, the show business and a great deal of other markets right now because a great deal 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 really first pay check on Strictly I have actually constantly had actually that cash invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a task in 6 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 constantly tasks out there. It’s just in some cases having to change what it is you believe you are going to do and adjust a bit. Adapting is hard but you do need to adapt often.

‚It is very important that individuals enter into these huge programs that they’re enjoying but they have a profession behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both professional dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.‘

Every day, individuals are facing the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‚genuine world‘ as he’s discovered the dramatic boost in everyday items.

He discussed: ‚Each and every single day I’m reminded truth. I brought up at the petrol pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to decisions that have been made much higher up than my paycheck. That’s the real life.

‚I was like, ‚What 10p more expensive from yesterday to today‘, like that’s insane. I believe people forget, the cost 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 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 impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with just ₤ 879 in his business’s organization account

Despite drawing in an excellent ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with simply ₤ 879 in his company’s business account.

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his firm had actually not traded for some time and according to Companies House Records was facing an ‚active proposition‘ 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, indicating it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

At the height of his celebrity 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 business had funnelled profits from a ‚wide array of agreements to supply carrying out arts services within the media industry‘, paperwork said.

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

Robin previously told how he was paid ₤ 100,000 a year throughout his time on Strictly which came to 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 (visualized on the program in 2013)

He also remembered one time he earned ’silly money‘, telling This Is Money: ‚My dance partner and I were as soon as 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 two minutes.‘

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

He said: ‚Suddenly, I was making money I had just dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just from Strictly however from work off the back of the program such as the tour and private performances.

‚When you’re on prime-time TV, everyone wants a little slice of you.‘

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

Graziano Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was once thought about a favourite amongst Strictly fans, but last year he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later verified and regretted his actions against Zara.

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‚devastated‘ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‚I deeply are sorry for the occasions that caused my departure from Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing abundant list: The professional dancers waltzing all the method to the bank after making MILLIONS thanks to the program

‚My extreme enthusiasm and decision to win may have impacted my training program.

‚While appreciating the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just right 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 level of sensitivity of the circumstance.

‚There’s more to this story that I am not able to talk about at this time, however I am committed to being strong for my friends and family. I want the Strictly household absolutely nothing but success in the future.‘

Following his departure from the show, Graziano tried 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 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 among Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champion for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on On Ice, and likewise made a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For many fans, Oti is considered among Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champ 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 because her exit has actually generated a substantial fortune with a string of effective TV gigs.

Ever since, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was likewise 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 husband Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money offer to work together with Bravissimo on a ‚confidence boosting‘ underclothing range, and she and hubby Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in four private companies, which they co-own. consisting of the residential or commercial property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in assets since last year.

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

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 previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his automobile while attempting to kickstart his carrying out career

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

His firm Supreme Dance declared ₤ 104,993 in its newest properties with ₤ 42,234 remaining after bills.

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, while juggling it with an office job.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‚If there’s nobody there, I’ll oversleep my cars and truck and then I can pay for two of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‚I invested loads of time oversleeping my automobile – essentially living out of my vehicle – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these simple, showbiz, attractive lives and it’s not like that.

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

‚I was essentially looking in my wallet going, I’ve simply been fired from another job. I have actually got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t pay for 2 of them.

‚I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and state,“ Oh, there’s been an issue at the bank. I’m going to need to give you the money 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 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his wife Ola following match 2 years lateer.

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

The couple have actually capitalized their joint weight loss in current years, setting up a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually given that downsized to a home more ’suitable‘ for their daughter Ella.

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC