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 need to be earning a significant fortune.

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

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly experts should earn a quite penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for the majority of it’s a completely various story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor in recent years have actually shared their battles with stacking debts 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 hit by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the serious financial problems they had actually just recently experienced are believed to have actually been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose 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 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 formerly appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she started a love with her celebrity partner Ben Cohen.

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

The extent of the couple’s struggles were laid bare in unusual 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 actually bungled the handling of their vehicle insurance coverage and informed how he was ‘fighting to save his relationship and home’.

A good friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘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 different individuals.

‘Those near them who understand 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 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 told the court: ‘I get up every day and I combat not to lose everything – to lose my cars and trucks and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being struck by cash concerns, 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 living together. We’re in it economically.

‘We’re in business together so the issue is that we opened 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 charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got an organization debt because of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

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

Records likewise expose that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was successfully ₤ 6,633 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last accounts for 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 nearly 29 months overdue.

Another company called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is likewise owned by the Soo Yoga Group, was established in December 2021 and liquified 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 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, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise almost 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

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

AJ initially rose to fame as an entrant 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 new age of by departing the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his planned dance tour, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into financial obligation.

Talking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash concerns some Strictly stars can face after leaving the show.

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the tour was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I seemed like that was the right thing to do. We wound up with a VAT 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 hard decision to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

‘They absolutely did value it. I perhaps didn’t value 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 think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, nevertheless, 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 anticipate 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 business, that’s not even close.

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

‘And I believe individuals are intrigued by money. People like to see numbers and enjoy to see good things, and a great deal of times you require to live within your own ways.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were tossed into a variety of huge cash offers and AJ says some people have no idea how to manage that type of sum of money.

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

AJ became extremely open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars need to find out how to ‘adjust’ their profession.

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his friends 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 hard I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other industries today since a lot of individuals are being laid off. It does play on your psychological health if you do not have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested cash, from my extremely first pay check on Strictly I’ve constantly had that cash invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job 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 jobs out there. It’s just in some cases having to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adjust a little bit. Adapting is difficult but you do need to adjust often.

‘It is very important that individuals enter into these big programs that they’re taking pleasure 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, people are dealing with the expense of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no various and is frequently snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s observed the significant boost in daily products.

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

‘I was like, ‘What 10p more pricey from the other day to today’, like that’s crazy. I think individuals forget, the cost of living and inflation’s increased.

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

Robin Windsor

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

Despite pulling in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with just ₤ 879 in his business’s business 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 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 nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, however 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 business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was paid back.

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

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

Robin previously 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 some time (pictured on the show in 2013)

He also recalled one time he made ‘silly money’, telling 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 event. Our dance lasted two minutes.’

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

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was generating income I had only dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply 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 said he became so ‘bitter’ about not being allowed to return that he couldn’t bear to enjoy it, and he went into a ‘steady decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was drastically sacked by managers last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous celebrity 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 preferred amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was significantly sacked by employers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later verified and regretted his actions against Zara.

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

Strictly Come Dancing abundant list: The expert dancers waltzing all the method to the bank after earning MILLIONS thanks to the show

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

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just ideal for the sake of the program that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t enabled to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the situation.

‘There’s more to this story that I am not able to go over at this time, however I am dedicated to being strong for my friends and family. I wish the Strictly family nothing but 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 describe himself as a ‘professional 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 among Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

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

For lots of 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.

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

Since then, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The best Dancer, contributing to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before signing up with the Strictly lineup, Oti also 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 listed possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its most current accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money deal to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘confidence boosting’ underclothing variety, and she and husband Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in four private business, which they co-own. including the home company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in possessions as of in 2015.

And Oti has only contributed to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! where she was reportedly 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 actually cashed in with a string of phase roles

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his vehicle while attempting to start his carrying out profession

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 company Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its latest properties with ₤ 42,234 staying after expenses.

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his car while attempting to start his carrying out profession, while managing it with a workplace job.

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

‘I spent loads of time sleeping in my automobile – essentially living out of my car – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think 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 task – typical office tasks, simply trying to sustain my dancer profession.

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

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

Business: James and Ola Jordan have capitalized their joint weight-loss recently, 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 other half Ola following match 2 years lateer.

James has actually 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 actually cashed in on their joint weight reduction recently, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe.

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

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC