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

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be right in presuming that its stars must be earning a substantial fortune.

Whether it be the determined 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 fascinating watch throughout the autumn months.

However, while it has been presumed that Strictly specialists need to earn a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the program, for most it’s an entirely different story.

Pros who have actually bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor over the last few years have shared their battles with stacking debts and money woes, with some even facing the possibility of losing their homes.

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

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

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have wound up in debt – as Kristina Rihanoff’s financial troubles 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 headlines when she began a love with her celeb partner Ben Cohen.

However, in 2015, the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being hit by money woes, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court.

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

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

A friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The previous 6 months have actually been hell for them and it has actually torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their household, they have actually picked to go forward as separate people.

‘Those close to them who understand 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 entrusted to debilitating debts 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 informed the court: ‘I get up every day and I battle not to lose whatever – to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

In 2015 the couple shared worries that they might lose their home after being struck by cash problems, with Ben laying bare their financial concerns in court (pictured in 2021)

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

‘We’re in organization together so the problem is that we opened business before Covid and we got the worst intensities of it and in all truthfully this is just another issue for me to deal with.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a service financial obligation because of Covid. It’s simply another problem.’

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

Records also reveal that a food services company called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 percent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was efficiently ₤ 6,633 at a loss, taking into account future liabilities, in its last accounts for the period ending on July 31, 2020.

The company’s accounts for the year ending in July 2021 have still not been submitted and are now nearly 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 submitting accounts.

A 4th company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other individuals was likewise included and willingly struck off on the very same dates.

A 5th 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 increased to popularity as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic (pictured with Saffron Barker in 2019)

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

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

While the star had actually previously hoped to start a new era of dance success by departing the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

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

He stated: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the trip was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I seemed like that was the best thing to do. We wound up with a VAT expense which came out of our own pocket.

‘We didn’t earn money, myself or Curtis, but we paid all of our dancers. It’s a difficult decision to be made, however that’s what it is when you are running your own business.

‘They certainly did value it. I possibly didn’t appreciate the debt that I was left in but, hi, it’s a decision that was made.’

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his buddies think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, nevertheless, he explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is no place near that.

The dancer stated: ‘I believe a lot of people 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 restricted business, that’s not even close.

‘I think transparency is a favorable thing in this day and age, but the majority of people don’t truly desire to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I think people are intrigued by cash. People enjoy to see numbers and like to see nice things, and a great deal of times you require 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 money deals and AJ says some individuals have no concept how to manage that kind of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a difference’ and have actually set up ‘using our own cash’ a monetary investment company called FINT to assist to ‘inform’ individuals.

AJ ended up being extremely open about how often the TV reservations and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars need to discover how to ‘adapt’ their profession.

AJ stated it is hard when a lot of his good friends think 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 actually tough I think in our market, the entertainment market and a great deal of other markets right now due to the fact that a lot of people are being laid off. It does use your psychological health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have 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 draw on if I need it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are always tasks out there. It’s just often needing to change what it is you believe you are going to do and adjust a bit. Adapting is tough but you do need to adjust sometimes.

‘It is essential that people enter into these huge 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 expense of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no different and is routinely snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s discovered the significant boost in daily products.

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 expensive due to choices that have actually been made much higher up than my paycheck. That’s the genuine world.

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

‘Even when inflation boils down, it doesn’t indicate that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be tough for a lot of individuals this year and I don’t believe 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 simply ₤ 879 in his company’s company account

Despite pulling in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’s organization 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 dealing with an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed practically ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted accounts, but ₤ 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 business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was paid back.

The company had actually channelled revenues from a ‘wide variety of agreements to provide carrying out arts services within the media industry’, documentation said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – alongside fellow Strictly professional 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 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 company had not traded for a long time (imagined on the show in 2013)

He likewise remembered one time he made ‘ridiculous cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay 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 remembered in September 2022 that the ‘finest’ 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 most likely 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 performances.

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

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin said he ended up being so ‘bitter’ about not being allowed to return that he couldn’t bear to see it, and he entered into a ‘stable decline’ after leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by employers last year following claims of gross misbehavior towards his previous superstar 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 when thought about a preferred among Strictly fans, but last year he was dramatically sacked by employers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former superstar partner Zara McDermott.

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

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

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

‘My intense passion and determination to win might have impacted my training routine.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only 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 newspaper article, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the circumstance.

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

Following his departure from the program, Graziano tried 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 capitalized their Strictly success …

Oti Mabuse

For lots of 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 appeared as 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 lots of 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 show in 2022, and considering that her exit has amassed a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, 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, adding to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before signing up with the Strictly lineup, Oti also 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 established with her partner Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has 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 increasing’ underwear range, and she and hubby Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London estate.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of properties in four personal business, which they co-own. consisting of the home company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in possessions since last year.

And Oti has 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 charge.

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton was crowned Strictly champ in 2018 with Stacey Dooley, and after leaving the program in 2020, has moneyed in with a string of phase roles

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his automobile while attempting to kickstart his carrying out career

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

His company Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its newest assets with ₤ 42,234 remaining after expenses.

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his automobile while attempting to start his performing career, while handling it with an office task.

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

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

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

‘I was generally looking in my wallet going, I’ve just been fired from another task. I have actually got 4 lessons tomorrow; I currently can’t pay for 2 of them.

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the teacher and say,” Oh, there’s been a problem at the bank. I’m going to have to give you the money on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have actually cashed in on their joint weight reduction recently, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his other half Ola following fit 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 actually cashed in on their joint weight reduction in the last few years, establishing a fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

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

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

They make extra cash by offering signed images for ₤ 9.50 while Ola provides dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC