How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have actually Wound Up In Debt

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be ideal in assuming that its stars must be earning a large 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 assisted make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly specialists should make a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for most it’s an entirely various story.

Pros who have bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have shared their struggles with piling financial obligations and cash concerns, with some even dealing with the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff end up being the current stars to be hit by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then exposed it was the extreme financial troubles they had actually recently experienced are believed to have actually been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ paychecks to reveal the truth about how for numerous, the money stops as soon as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

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

The extent of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon scenarios – during 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, confessed he had made a mess of the handling of their car insurance coverage and informed how he was ‘combating to conserve his relationship and home’.

A pal of the couple informed the Mail he stated: ‘The previous six months have been hell for them and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have actually chosen to move forward as different people.

‘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 looks like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted to crippling 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 fight 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 worries that they could lose their home after being hit by cash problems, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court (visualized in 2021)

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

‘We stay in business together so the issue is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst seriousness of it and in all honestly this is simply another issue 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 since of Covid. It’s just another issue.’

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

Records also reveal that a food services business called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was successfully ₤ 6,633 in the red, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last represent the duration 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 almost 29 months past due.

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 4th business called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other individuals was likewise included and willingly struck off on the very same dates.

A 5th business called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ 5,041 at a loss, 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 initially rose to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (envisioned with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since clarify the cash problems some Strictly stars can deal with, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance trip was cancelled in 2020

AJ first increased to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had actually previously hoped to kickstart a new period of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his planned dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into debt.

Speaking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash problems some Strictly stars can face after leaving the program.

He said: ‘We had a company where we were running our own tour and the trip was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I felt like that was the right thing to do. We ended up with a barrel expense 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 decision 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 debt that I was left in but, hi, it’s a decision 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 discussed that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns 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’ve paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a limited business, that’s not even close.

‘I think openness is a positive thing in this day and age, however many people don’t actually wish to discuss their finances.

‘And I think individuals are captivated by money. People like to see numbers and love to see great 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 variety of big money deals and AJ states some people have no concept how to deal with that kind of sum of cash.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ exposed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a distinction’ and have actually established ‘utilizing our own money’ a monetary investment company called FINT to help to ‘educate’ individuals.

AJ became very open about how in some cases the TV bookings and photoshoots can unexpectedly stop and stars have to learn how to ‘adapt’ 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 truly hard I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other markets today due to the fact that a lot of individuals are being laid off. It does play on your mental health if you do not have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my really first pay check on Strictly I have actually constantly had actually that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a task in 6 months time, I do have money there that I can draw on if I need it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are constantly tasks out there. It’s just in some cases needing to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a bit. Adapting is hard but you do have to adjust sometimes.

‘It’s crucial 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 expert dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, people are facing the expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s observed the significant increase in daily products.

He described: ‘Every day I’m reminded reality. I pulled up at the fuel pump today and the diesel was 10p more pricey due to choices that have actually been made much higher up than my income. That’s the real world.

‘I resembled, ‘What 10p more costly from the other day to today’, like that’s crazy. I believe individuals forget, the expense of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t indicate that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be hard for a great deal of people this year and I don’t believe it’s going to get any simpler.’

Robin Windsor

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

Despite pulling in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’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 actually not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was facing an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The business Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, however owed financial institutions ₤ 15,000, suggesting 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 paid back.

The business had channelled profits from a ‘wide array of agreements to offer performing arts services within the media industry’, documents stated.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – alongside fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and posted photos 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 pertained 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 exposed his firm had not traded for a long time (pictured on the program in 2013)

He also remembered one time he made ‘ridiculous cash’, informing 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 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 said: ‘Suddenly, I was making money I had just dreamt about. I probably made about ₤ 100,000 that year – not just from Strictly however from work off the back of the show such as the tour and private efficiencies.

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

Discussing his Strictly exit, Robin said he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being enabled to return that he could not bear to watch it, and he went into a ‘consistent decrease’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was dramatically sacked by managers in 2015 following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was as soon as considered a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however last year he was significantly sacked by employers following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott.

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

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

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

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

‘While appreciating the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just right for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed 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 circumstance.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, however I am dedicated 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 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 cashed in on their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For many fans, Oti is thought about among Strictly’s most successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has actually looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also earned a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For lots of fans, Oti is thought about one of most successful 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 wage before she left the program in 2022, and because her exit has actually accumulated a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Ever since, she has actually looked like 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 likewise worked as a professional 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 noted possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its newest accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money deal to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence increasing’ underwear variety, and she and partner Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of assets in 4 personal business, which they co-own. consisting of the residential or commercial property company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in assets as of in 2015.

And Oti has actually just included 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 program in 2020, has cashed in with a string of stage roles

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his vehicle while trying to start his performing career

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

His company Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its most current assets with ₤ 42,234 staying after bills.

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his car while attempting to start his carrying out career, while juggling 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 invested loads of time oversleeping my car – basically living out of my cars and truck – 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, simply attempting to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was basically looking in my wallet going, I’ve simply been fired from another task. 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 instructor and state,” 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 capitalized their joint weight reduction in the last few years, setting up a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his wife Ola following fit two years lateer.

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

The couple have capitalized their joint weight loss recently, setting up a physical fitness site 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 given that 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 properties and ₤ 465,002 after costs.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC