How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have actually Ended up In Debt

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

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

However, while it has been presumed that Strictly professionals need to make a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for a lot of it’s an entirely various story.

Pros who have bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor recently have shared their struggles with stacking financial obligations and cash problems, with some even dealing with the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be struck by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the serious financial problems they had just recently experienced are believed 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 financial obligation – as Kristina Rihanoff’s financial difficulties are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (envisioned on the show in 2013)

Kristina previously appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headlines when she started a romance with her celeb partner Ben Cohen.

However, in 2015, the couple shared worries that they could lose their home after being struck by money concerns, with Ben laying bare their financial troubles in court.

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

Giving evidence throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, admitted he had actually mishandled the handling of their vehicle insurance policy and informed how he was ‘battling to save his relationship and home’.

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

‘Those near 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 looks like there’s no going back.’

The couple were left with 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 fight not to lose whatever – to lose my vehicles and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

In 2015 the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being hit by money concerns, with Ben laying bare their monetary issues in court (imagined in 2021)

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

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

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

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

Records also reveal 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 represent the period ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s accounts for the year ending in July 2021 have actually still not been filed and are now almost 29 months past due.

Another business called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is also 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 4th company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other individuals was likewise included and voluntarily struck off on the same dates.

A fifth company called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 in the red, considering future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are also almost 29 months past due, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

But AJ has since clarify the cash woes some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into financial obligation when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ first increased to fame as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic.

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

Talking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the money problems some Strictly stars can deal with after leaving the show.

He said: ‘We had a business where we were running our own trip and the tour was cut short. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I felt 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 earn money, myself or Curtis, however we paid all of our dancers. It’s a difficult choice to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

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

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his friends believe 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 think 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 business, that’s not even close.

‘I think transparency is a positive thing in this day and age, however the majority of people do not really want to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I think people are intrigued by money. People love to see numbers and like 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 thrown into a number of huge money offers and AJ says some individuals have no concept how to manage that type of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‘want to make a difference’ and have established ‘utilizing our own money’ a financial investment firm called FINT to assist to ‘inform’ people.

AJ became really open about how sometimes the TV bookings and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars have to find out how to ‘adjust’ their profession.

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his good friends believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s really tough I believe in our market, the home entertainment industry and a great deal of other markets today since a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you do not have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my extremely first pay check on Strictly I have actually always had actually that money invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work 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 believe you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is difficult but you do have to adapt often.

‘It is very important that people enter into these huge shows 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, people are dealing with the cost of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no different and is regularly snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s seen the dramatic increase in everyday items.

He explained: ‘Each and 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 been made much higher up than my income. That’s the genuine world.

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

‘Even when inflation comes down, it doesn’t imply that it returns 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 much easier.’

Robin Windsor

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

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

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February last year, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his firm had not traded for a long 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 creditors ₤ 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 company and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the business, which was paid back.

The business had channelled incomes from a ‘wide range of agreements to offer carrying out arts services within the media market’, documents stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly professional Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published images 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 firm had actually not traded for some time (envisioned on the show in 2013)

He also remembered one time he made ‘ridiculous cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were when paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an occasion. Our dance lasted two minutes.’

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

He said: ‘All of an abrupt, I was making money I had actually just dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not simply from Strictly but from work off the back of the program such as the trip and personal efficiencies.

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

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin said he became so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he couldn’t bear to see it, and he entered into a ‘constant decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was dramatically sacked by managers last year following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous celeb partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was as soon as thought about a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was considerably sacked by managers following claims of gross misconduct towards his former superstar partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later validated and regretted his actions against Zara.

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the occasions that resulted in 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 extreme passion and determination to win may have impacted my training program.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just best for the sake of the show that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t enabled to provide a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the scenario.

‘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 show, with customised 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 actually 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 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 fee for her stint on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

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

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

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money offer to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence enhancing’ underwear range, and she and partner Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in 4 personal business, which they co-own. including the property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in possessions since last year.

And Oti has actually just contributed to her fortune in current months by appearing on I’m A Celebrity 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 cashed in with a string of phase functions

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t always been simple, revealing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his cars and truck while trying to start his performing profession

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has required to the phase, performing in Strictly Ballroom, Rock of Ages and War of the Worlds.

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

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his vehicle while attempting to start his carrying out career, while managing it with an office job.

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

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my cars and truck – essentially living out of my vehicle – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People believe 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 – regular office tasks, just trying to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another task. I have actually got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t pay for two 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 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 reduction over the last few years, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his spouse Ola doing the same 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 cashed in on their joint weight reduction over the last few years, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe.

The set sold their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually since downsized 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 costs.

They earn additional money by offering signed images for ₤ 9.50 while Ola provides dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC