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 should be making a large fortune.

Whether it be the tireless hours of training, or being an on-screen component for weeks on end, the program’s professional dancers have actually helped make the series a fascinating watch throughout the autumn 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 many it’s a completely different story.

Pros who have actually bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in recent years have actually shared their struggles with stacking financial obligations and money problems, with some even facing the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff end up being the most recent stars to be hit by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the severe monetary problems they had actually recently experienced are thought to have been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the shine behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to expose the fact about how for many, the money stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have actually wound up in debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s financial difficulties are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (visualized on the show in 2013)

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

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

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

Giving evidence during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had actually mishandled the handling of their vehicle insurance plan and told how he was ‘combating to conserve his relationship and home’.

A pal of the couple informed the Mail he said: ‘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 selected to move forward as different individuals.

‘Those near them who know them as a couple had 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 debilitating debts after they tilled every cent 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 worries that they might lose their home after being struck by money troubles, with Ben laying bare their monetary problems in court (visualized in 2021)

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

‘We’re in organization 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 deal with.

‘I have actually got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got an organization financial obligation due to the fact that of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

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

Records likewise reveal that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was successfully ₤ 6,633 in the red, taking into account 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 actually still not been filed and are now nearly 29 months past due.

Another company 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 submitting accounts.

A 4th business 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 5th company called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 in the red, taking into account 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 increased to popularity as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic (envisioned with Saffron Barker in 2019)

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

AJ first increased to fame as an entrant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly intended to start a new era of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and brother Curtis into debt.

Speaking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash troubles some Strictly stars can deal with after leaving the program.

He said: ‘We had a company 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 ideal thing to do. We wound up with a VAT costs 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 absolutely did value it. I perhaps didn’t value the financial obligation that I was left in but, hey, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his good friends think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is no place 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 limited company, that’s not even close.

‘I think openness is a positive thing in this day and age, however many people do not actually want to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I believe individuals are interested by money. People love to see numbers and like to see nice things, and a lot of times you require to live within your own ways.’

After leaving shows such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a number of huge money deals and AJ states some people have no concept how to handle that sort of amount of cash.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘want to make a distinction’ and have actually established ‘utilizing our own cash’ a monetary investment company called FINT to assist to ‘educate’ individuals.

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

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his pals believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly difficult I think in our market, the show business and a lot 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 actually invested money, from my very first salary on Strictly I have actually always had that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work in six months time, I do have money there that I can make use of if I require it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are always jobs out there. It’s simply sometimes having to change what it is you believe you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is difficult but you do need to adjust in some cases.

‘It is necessary that individuals enter into these big shows that they’re taking pleasure in but they have an occupation 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 expense of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no various and is regularly snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s observed the remarkable boost in daily items.

He explained: ‘Every day I’m reminded reality. I brought up at the petrol pump today and the diesel was 10p more pricey due to decisions that have been made much greater up than my paycheck. That’s the real life.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more costly from yesterday to today’, like that’s insane. I believe people forget, the expense of living and inflation’s increased.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t imply that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be hard for a lot of individuals this year and I do not think it’s going to get any much easier.’

Robin Windsor

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

Despite drawing in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically 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 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 company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed practically ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, but owed creditors ₤ 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 business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was repaid.

The company had actually channelled incomes from a ‘large variety of agreements to offer carrying out arts services within the media market’, documentation said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly expert 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 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 (pictured on the program in 2013)

He also remembered one time he made ‘ridiculous 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 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 stated: ‘Suddenly, I was making money I had just dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just 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, everybody desires a little slice of you.’

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin said he became so ‘bitter’ about not being enabled to return that he could not bear to see it, and he entered into a ‘consistent decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by managers in 2015 following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous celebrity partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was once considered a preferred amongst Strictly fans, but in 2015 he was considerably sacked by bosses following claims of gross misconduct towards his former superstar partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later on validated and regretted his actions against Zara.

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly.

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

‘My intense enthusiasm and determination to win might have impacted my training regime.

‘While respecting the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s just ideal for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to use 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 go over at this time, however I am devoted to being strong for my friends and family. I wish the Strictly family nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the program, Graziano attempted to cash on his looks 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 ‘expert dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have actually capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

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

Ever since, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also made a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For many 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 income before she left the program in 2022, and since her exit has actually amassed a substantial fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Ever since, she has looked like 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 joining 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 husband Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually listed assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its most recent accounts.

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

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

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

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champ in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the program in 2020, has cashed in with a string of stage functions

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 trying to kickstart his carrying out career

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has to the stage, 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 bills.

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

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s no one there, I’ll sleep in my vehicle and after that I can afford 2 of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time oversleeping my vehicle – basically living out of my car – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People believe we live these easy, showbiz, glamorous lives and it’s not like that.

‘There’s been times where I was just getting fired from job after job – normal office tasks, simply trying to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was essentially 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 two of them.

‘I’m going to need to blag it with the teacher and say,” Oh, there’s been an issue 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 actually cashed in on their joint weight reduction over the last few years, establishing a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his spouse Ola following suit two years lateer.

James has actually appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, returned a few 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-loss recently, setting up a physical fitness website 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 because scaled down to a home more ‘ideal’ 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 costs.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC