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

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be best in assuming that its stars should be earning a significant 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 assisted make the series a fascinating watch throughout the autumn months.

However, while it has actually been assumed that Strictly professionals need to make 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 bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor in the last few years have actually shared their struggles with stacking financial obligations and cash troubles, with some even dealing with the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the latest stars to be struck by the notorious ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the serious monetary problems they had recently experienced are believed to have been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the fact about how for numerous, the cash 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 problems are blamed for split from Ben Cohen (imagined on the show 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, in 2015, the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being hit by cash woes, with Ben laying bare their financial troubles in court.

The level of the couple’s struggles were laid bare in uncommon situations – 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 mishandled the handling of their automobile insurance policy and told how he was ‘fighting to conserve his relationship and home’.

A buddy of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘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 selected to move forward as different individuals.

‘Those near them who understand them as a couple had 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 left with debilitating financial obligations after they ploughed 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 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 worries that they could lose their home after being struck by money concerns, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court (visualized 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 company together so the problem is that we opened the business 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 company debt 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, however the action was suspended 9 days later on and ceased on April 28, 2023.

Records likewise expose that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was effectively ₤ 6,633 at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last represent the duration ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have 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 set up in December 2021 and dissolved by a voluntary strike off in February this year without ever filing accounts.

A fourth business called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other people was likewise integrated and willingly struck off on the exact same dates.

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

AJ Pritchard

AJ first increased to fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has considering that shed light on the money issues 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 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 actually formerly wished to kickstart a brand-new period of dance success by departing the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his organized dance trip, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into debt.

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

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own tour and the tour was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I felt like that was the ideal thing to do. We ended up with a barrel bill 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 tough choice to be made, however 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 said it is hard when a great deal of his buddies 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 no place near that.

The dancer said: ‘I believe a lot of individuals expect you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and immediately be a millionaire. Once you’ve paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a restricted company, that’s not even close.

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

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

After leaving shows 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 idea how to deal with that sort of amount of cash.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a difference’ and have set up ‘using our own cash’ a financial investment company called FINT to assist to ‘educate’ people.

AJ ended up being very open about how in some cases the TV bookings and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars need to find out how to ‘adapt’ their career.

AJ said it is hard when a great deal 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 actually tough I believe in our market, the home entertainment market and a great deal of other markets today due to the fact that a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does play on your mental health if you do not have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my really first pay check 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 cash there that I can draw on if I need it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are always tasks out there. It’s simply sometimes having to alter what it is you believe you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is hard but you do need to adapt often.

‘It is essential that people enter into these big shows that they’re delighting in however they have a profession 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 cost of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no different and is routinely snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s observed the significant increase in everyday products.

He explained: ‘Each and every single day I’m brought back to truth. I brought up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more expensive due to choices that have been made much greater up than my paycheck. That’s the real life.

‘I was like, ‘What 10p more pricey from the other day to today’, like that’s insane. I think people forget, the cost of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t mean that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be hard for a great deal of individuals this year and I do not believe it’s going to get any simpler.’

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ 879 in his company’s organization account

Despite drawing in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’s service 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 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 almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, but owed creditors ₤ 15,000, implying 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 company and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the business, which was repaid.

The business had actually transported earnings from a ‘wide variety of agreements to offer carrying out arts services within the media market’, documents said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – together with fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published photos 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 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 company had actually not traded for a long time (imagined on the show in 2013)

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

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

He stated: ‘All of a sudden, I was generating income I had only dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just from Strictly however from work off the back of the show such as the trip and private efficiencies.

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

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin stated he became so ‘bitter’ about not being permitted to return that he could not bear to watch it, and he went into a ‘constant decrease’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was significantly sacked by bosses last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was once thought about a favourite among Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was dramatically sacked by bosses following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

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

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

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

‘My extreme enthusiasm and determination to win might have impacted my training program.

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

‘There’s more to this story that I am not able to discuss at this time, however I am committed to being strong for my household and good friends. I wish the Strictly family absolutely nothing however success in the future.’

Following his departure from the show, Graziano attempted to cash on his looks 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 capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

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

Ever since, she has looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also earned a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For numerous fans, Oti is thought about one of Strictly’s most effective 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 show in 2022, and considering that her exit has actually amassed a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

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

Before joining the Strictly lineup, Oti likewise 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 noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its latest accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money deal to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘confidence enhancing’ underwear variety, and she and hubby Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 .

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

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

Kevin Clifton

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

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his vehicle while attempting to kickstart his carrying out career

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

His company Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its latest possessions with ₤ 42,234 staying after costs.

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his vehicle while attempting to start his performing career, while handling it with a workplace job.

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

‘I spent loads of time oversleeping my cars and truck – generally living out of my car – and having no work. It’s not all glamour. People think we live these easy, showbiz, glamorous lives and it’s not like that.

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

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

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the teacher and say,” Oh, there’s been an issue at the bank. I’m going to have 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 recent years, establishing a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his better half Ola following suit 2 years lateer.

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

The couple have actually cashed in on their joint weight-loss in current years, setting up a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per 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 ‘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 properties and ₤ 465,002 after costs.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC