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

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

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

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly experts must make a pretty cent, and years of success, through their time on the program, for a lot of it’s an entirely different story.

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

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

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the fact about how for lots of, 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 monetary difficulties are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (pictured on the program in 2013)

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

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

The degree of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon scenarios – throughout a court appearance 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 mishandled the handling of their car insurance coverage policy and informed how he was ‘battling to conserve his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The past six months have actually been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have selected to move forward as separate individuals.

‘Those near to them who know them as a couple had actually 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 entrusted crippling 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 combat not to lose whatever – to lose my cars and trucks and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

In 2015 the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being struck by money woes, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court (envisioned in 2021)

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

‘We’re in company together so the issue is that we opened business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is simply another issue for me to deal with.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got an organization financial obligation since 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 on and stopped on April 28, 2023.

Records also 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 in the red, taking into account 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 still not been submitted and are now almost 29 months overdue.

Another business called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is likewise 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 fourth business 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 fifth company called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 in the red, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise nearly 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

But AJ has considering that shed light on the money issues 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 fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually formerly intended to kickstart a brand-new period of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic forced him to cancel his organized dance tour, plunging himself and brother Curtis into debt.

Speaking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash concerns 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 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 VAT costs which came out of our own pocket.

‘We didn’t make money, 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 appreciate it. I perhaps didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in but, hello, it’s a decision that was made.’

AJ said it is hard when a great deal of his pals think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, nevertheless, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is no place near that.

The dancer said: ‘I think 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 company, that’s not even close.

‘I think openness is a favorable thing in this day and age, however the majority of people do not truly wish to discuss their finances.

‘And I think individuals are interested by cash. People like to see numbers and enjoy to see nice things, and a lot of times you need to live within your own methods.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a variety of huge money offers and AJ says some individuals have no idea how to deal with that type of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘want to make a difference’ and have set up ‘using our own money’ a monetary investment company called FINT to assist to ‘inform’ people.

AJ ended up being really open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars have to learn how to ‘adapt’ their profession.

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his buddies 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 actually tough I think in our industry, the home entertainment market and a lot of other industries today due to the fact that a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your psychological health if you don’t have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my extremely first salary on Strictly I have actually always had actually that money invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work 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 constantly jobs out there. It’s just in some cases needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is difficult however you do have to adapt often.

‘It’s crucial that individuals enter into these huge programs that they’re delighting in however 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 dealing with the cost of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no different and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real world’ as he’s observed the significant increase in daily items.

He described: ‘Every single day I’m reminded reality. I brought up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to choices that have actually been made much higher up than my paycheck. That’s the real life.

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

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

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ 879 in his business’s company account

Despite drawing in an outstanding ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with simply ₤ 879 in his company’s service 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 dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, but owed financial institutions ₤ 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 company and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was paid back.

The company had channelled revenues from a ‘wide array of contracts to supply carrying out arts services within the media industry’, documents said.

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

Robin formerly 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 exposed his company had not traded for a long time (visualized on the show in 2013)

He also remembered one time he earned ‘ridiculous money’, informing 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 occasion. Our dance lasted 2 minutes.’

He kept in mind in September 2022 that the ‘best’ 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 only dreamt about. I most likely 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 efficiencies.

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

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin stated he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he could not bear to see it, and he went into a ‘steady decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was when thought about a preferred among Strictly fans, however last year he was drastically sacked by bosses following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later confirmed and regretted his actions against Zara.

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

‘My extreme passion and determination to win might have impacted my training regime.

‘While appreciating the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only best 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 newspaper article, and I take on board the sensitivity of the scenario.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to talk about at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and buddies. I wish the Strictly household nothing however 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 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 numerous 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 made a reported ₤ 200,000 fee for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For lots of fans, Oti is thought about one of 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 wage before she left the show in 2022, and considering that her exit has accumulated 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 signing up with 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 spouse Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually listed possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

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

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of properties in 4 private companies, which they co-own. consisting of the home company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in assets since in 2015.

And Oti has actually 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 charge.

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 easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his vehicle while trying to start 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 declared ₤ 104,993 in its most current properties with ₤ 42,234 staying after expenses.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t always been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his cars and truck while attempting to start his carrying out profession, while juggling it with an office job.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‘If there’s no one there, I’ll oversleep my car and then I can manage 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my automobile – generally living out of my car – 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 simply getting fired from job after task – normal workplace jobs, just attempting to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was essentially searching in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another task. I’ve got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t spend for two of them.

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and state, » 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 capitalized their joint weight-loss in the last few years, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his better half Ola following match two years lateer.

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

The couple have capitalized their joint weight reduction in current years, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe.

The pair offered their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have because scaled down to a home more ‘appropriate’ for their child Ella.

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC