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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 presuming that its stars need to be making a significant 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 actually assisted make the series a captivating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly professionals must earn a quite penny, and years of success, through their time on the program, for a lot of it’s a wholly various story.

Pros who have actually bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in the last few years have actually shared their battles with piling financial obligations and money woes, with some even dealing with 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 love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the severe monetary problems they had actually recently experienced are thought to have actually been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine 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 wound up in debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s financial problems are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (visualized on the program in 2013)

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

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

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

Giving evidence during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had actually made a mess of the handling of their automobile insurance coverage and told how he was ‘battling to conserve his relationship and home’.

A pal of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The previous 6 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 actually selected 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 however for now it’s over and it appears like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted to debilitating debts 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 informed the court: ‘I get up every day and I fight not to lose whatever – to lose my cars 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 troubles, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court (envisioned in 2021)

When questioned about the strains on his and Kristina’s relationship, he stated: ‘We’re still cohabiting. We’re in it economically.

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

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

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

Records likewise reveal that a food services company called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was effectively ₤ 6,633 in the red, considering future liabilities, in its last represent the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have actually still not been filed and are now nearly 29 months overdue.

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

A fifth company called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 in the red, considering 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 first rose to fame as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has because clarify the cash issues some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into financial obligation when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ initially increased 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 wanted to kickstart a new age of dance success by departing the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his planned dance tour, plunging himself and brother Curtis into debt.

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

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own trip and the trip was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I felt like that was the right thing to do. We ended up with a barrel expense 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 definitely did value it. I maybe didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in but, hi, it’s a decision that was made.’

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

The dancer said: ‘I think a great deal of people anticipate 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 believe openness is a positive thing in this day and age, however many people don’t truly desire to talk about their financial resources.

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

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were tossed into a variety of big cash offers and AJ states some individuals have no idea how to manage that type of amount of money.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and to make a difference’ and have set up ‘using our own money’ a financial investment business called FINT to help to ‘educate’ people.

AJ became extremely open about how in some cases the TV bookings and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars need to discover how to ‘adapt’ their career.

AJ stated 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 makes is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly tough I think in our industry, the show business and a lot of other industries today since a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your psychological health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have actually invested money, from my extremely first pay check on Strictly I have actually always had actually that cash invested into different 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 simply often needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is tough but you do have to adapt sometimes.

‘It is necessary that people go into these huge shows that they’re delighting in 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, individuals are dealing with the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is regularly snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s noticed the significant boost in everyday products.

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

‘I was like, ‘What 10p more costly from yesterday to today’, like that’s crazy. I think individuals forget, the expense of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t suggest that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be tough for a lot of people this year and I don’t believe it’s going to get any easier.’

Robin Windsor

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

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

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February last year, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his company had actually 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 practically ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, however owed financial institutions ₤ 15,000, meaning 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 company, which was paid back.

The business had actually carried profits from a ‘large range of agreements to provide performing arts services within the media market’, documentation stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published pictures 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 discovered dead in a London hotel in February, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his firm had actually not traded for some time (envisioned on the show in 2013)

He likewise remembered one time he made ‘ridiculous cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were as soon as 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 kept in mind in September 2022 that the ‘best’ year of his monetary life was 2010, ‘my first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He said: ‘All of an abrupt, 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 personal performances.

‘When you’re on prime-time TV, everybody desires 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 couldn’t bear to watch it, and he went into a ‘consistent decrease’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was once considered a favourite among Strictly fans, but in 2015 he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later validated and regretted his actions versus Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply are sorry for the occasions that led to my departure from Strictly.

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

‘My extreme passion and determination to win may have impacted my training program.

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s just right for the sake of the program that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t permitted to provide 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 unable to go over at this time, but I am devoted to being strong for my family and buddies. I want the Strictly household nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the program, Graziano tried 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 refer to himself as a ‘professional dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For lots of 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

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also made a reported ₤ 200,000 cost for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For lots of fans, Oti is considered one of Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champion for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 salary before she left the program in 2022, and considering that her exit has actually amassed a substantial fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, she has actually looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The best Dancer, adding 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 set up with her hubby Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money deal to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence improving’ underclothing variety, and she and husband Marius also share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of properties in four private companies, which they co-own. including the property company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in possessions since last year.

And Oti has actually just contributed to her fortune in recent 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 champion in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the show in 2020, has actually cashed in with a string of phase functions

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his vehicle while trying to start his performing 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 staying after bills.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his cars and truck while trying to kickstart his carrying out career, while managing it with an office job.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll sleep in my cars and truck and then I can pay for 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time sleeping in my automobile – basically living out of my cars and truck – 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 – typical office tasks, just attempting to sustain my dancer profession.

‘I was generally looking in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another job. I have actually got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t pay for two of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the instructor and say, » Oh, there’s been an issue 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 capitalized their joint weight loss in current 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 partner Ola following suit two years lateer.

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

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

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

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC