How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Ended 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 vigorous hours of training, or being an on-screen component for weeks on end, the program’s expert dancers have actually helped make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

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

Pros who have actually bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor in the last few years have actually shared their battles with stacking debts and money concerns, with some even dealing with the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff end up being the most current stars to be struck by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the severe monetary problems they had recently experienced are thought to have lagged their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to expose the reality about how for numerous, the cash stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as a professional from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she began a love with her star partner Ben Cohen.

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

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

Giving proof throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, admitted he had actually mishandled the handling of their cars and truck insurance plan and told how he was ‘battling to conserve his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple told the Mail he said: ‘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 family, they have picked to move forward as separate people.

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

The couple were left with 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 battle not to lose everything – to lose my cars and trucks and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

Last year the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being struck by money problems, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court (pictured in 2021)

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

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

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

The company was noted 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 likewise expose 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 accounts for the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The company’s accounts for the year ending in July 2021 have still not been filed and are now almost 29 months overdue.

Another company called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is also owned by the Soo Yoga Group, was set up in December 2021 and dissolved 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 individuals was likewise incorporated and willingly struck off on the same dates.

A 5th business called Yoga Wellbeing which is one hundred 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 overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially increased to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic (envisioned with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has considering that shed light on the cash woes 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 popularity as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly intended to start a brand-new age of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into debt.

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

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the tour was cut short. We paid all of our dancers because, personally, I felt like that was the right thing to do. We wound up with a barrel bill 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 hard decision to be made, however that’s what it is when you are running your own business.

‘They definitely did appreciate it. I perhaps didn’t value the debt that I was left in however, hi, it’s a decision that was made.’

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his buddies believe 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 stated: ‘I think a great deal of individuals 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 minimal business, that’s not even close.

‘I believe transparency is a favorable thing in this day and age, however the majority of people do not actually want to speak about their finances.

‘And I believe people are captivated by cash. People love to see numbers and love to see nice things, and a great deal of times you need to live within your own methods.’

After leaving programs such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a number of big cash offers and AJ says some people have no concept how to manage that type of amount of cash.

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

AJ ended up being extremely open about how sometimes the TV reservations and photoshoots can all of a sudden stop and stars have to discover how to ‘adapt’ their career.

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his pals think 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 tough I believe in our industry, the entertainment industry and a great deal of other industries today since a great deal of people are being laid off. It does play on your mental health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have actually invested cash, from my very first salary on Strictly I’ve constantly had that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work in 6 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 constantly tasks out there. It’s just in some cases needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is tough however you do have to adapt in some cases.

‘It is very important that people enter into these huge programs that they’re enjoying 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 facing the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is frequently snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s noticed the remarkable boost in daily products.

He discussed: ‘Each and every single day I’m brought back to truth. I pulled up at the gas pump today and the diesel was 10p more pricey due to decisions that have actually been made much higher up than my paycheck. That’s the real world.

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

‘Even when inflation boils down, it does not indicate 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 think it’s going to get any easier.’

Robin Windsor

Despite pulling in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’s business account

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

The dancer was discovered dead in a London hotel in February in 2015, and in the wake of his passing it was exposed his company had not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The business Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed nearly ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, however owed creditors ₤ 15,000, meaning 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 business, which was repaid.

The business had actually directed incomes from a ‘broad range of contracts to offer carrying out arts services within the media market’, 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 images of himself when the boat docked in South Africa.

Robin formerly informed how he was paid ₤ 100,000 a year during his time on Strictly which concerned 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 firm had actually not traded for a long time (visualized on the program in 2013)

He also recalled one time he made ‘ridiculous 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 2 minutes.’

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

He stated: ‘Suddenly, I was making money I had just 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 personal performances.

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

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin stated he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being enabled to return that he couldn’t bear to enjoy it, and he went into a ‘stable decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was dramatically sacked by bosses in 2015 following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous 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 when considered a preferred amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was significantly sacked by employers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later validated and regretted his actions versus Zara.

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that resulted in my departure from Strictly.

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

‘My intense enthusiasm and determination to win might have affected my training routine.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only best for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t permitted to use a quote to the online newspaper article, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to talk about at this time, but I am devoted to being strong for my family and buddies. I want the Strictly household absolutely nothing but success in the future.’

Following his departure from the program, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances 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 cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For numerous fans, Oti is considered one of Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and likewise made a reported ₤ 200,000 fee for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For numerous fans, Oti is considered among most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for 2 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 accumulated a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Ever since, she has appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was likewise a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The best Dancer, adding to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before signing up with the Strictly lineup, Oti likewise worked as a professional 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 spouse Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually listed properties of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

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

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of assets in 4 personal business, which they co-own. including the property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in assets since in 2015.

And Oti has only added to her fortune in current months by appearing on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! where she was apparently paid a ₤ 200,000 cost.

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champion in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the show in 2020, has actually moneyed in with a string of stage roles

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his automobile while trying to kickstart his carrying out profession

Since leaving Strictly in 2020, Kevin Clifton has actually taken 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 possessions with ₤ 42,234 remaining after costs.

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his vehicle while attempting to start his performing profession, while juggling it with an office task.

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

‘I invested loads of time sleeping in my cars and truck – basically living out of my automobile – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these easy, showbiz, attractive lives and it’s not like that.

‘There’s been times where I was just getting fired from task after job – regular office jobs, just attempting to sustain my dancer profession.

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I have actually simply been fired from another job. I’ve got 4 lessons tomorrow; I already can’t spend for two of them.

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

Business: James and Ola Jordan have actually cashed in on their joint weight loss in the last few years, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his other half Ola following suit 2 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 over the last few years, setting up a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually because downsized to a home more ‘ideal’ for their child Ella.

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

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC