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

For viewers tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be right in presuming that its stars should be making a substantial 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 assisted make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has actually been assumed that Strictly experts need to earn a quite cent, and years of success, through their time on the show, for many it’s a completely various story.

Pros who have bid farewell to the Strictly dancefloor recently have shared their battles with piling debts and money issues, with some even facing the of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be hit by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year love ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the serious financial problems they had actually just recently experienced are thought to have actually been behind their split.

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

Kristina Rihanoff

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

Kristina previously appeared on Strictly as an expert from 2008 to 2015, making headings when she began a romance with her star partner Ben Cohen.

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

The level of the couple’s struggles were laid bare in uncommon situations – during a court look 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 made a mess of the handling of their automobile insurance policy and informed how he was ‘fighting to conserve his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple told the Mail he stated: ‘The past 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 picked to go forward as different individuals.

‘Those near them who know 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 left with crippling debts after they tilled 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 whatever – to lose my vehicles and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

In 2015 the couple shared worries that they could lose their home after being hit by cash woes, with Ben laying bare their monetary woes in court (envisioned in 2021)

When questioned about the strains on his and Kristina’s relationship, he said: ‘We’re still cohabiting. We remain in it financially.

‘We stay in business together so the issue is that we opened the company before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all truthfully this is simply another issue for me to handle.

‘I’ve got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a service debt since of Covid. It’s just another problem.’

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

Records also reveal 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 account future liabilities, in its last represent the period ending on July 31, 2020.

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

Another company called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is likewise 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 fourth company called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by 3 other individuals was also included and willingly 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 consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are also nearly 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially rose to fame as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic (pictured with Saffron Barker in 2019)

But AJ has since shed light on the cash problems 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 fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program just months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly wished to start a brand-new era of dance success by departing the program, the pandemic forced him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

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

He said: ‘We had a company where we were running our own trip and the tour was cut brief. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, personally, I seemed like that was the ideal thing to do. We wound up with a barrel costs 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 hard 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 lot of his friends think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that.

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

‘I think transparency is a favorable thing in this day and age, however the majority of people do not truly wish to discuss their finances.

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

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

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

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

AJ stated it is hard when a great deal of his good friends think he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that

He continued: ‘It’s really difficult I believe in our market, the entertainment market and a lot of other industries right now since 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 money, from my extremely first salary on Strictly I’ve always had actually that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job 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 simply often having to alter what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is hard however you do need to adapt in some cases.

‘It is essential that people go into these big shows that they’re delighting in but they have an occupation behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both expert dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, individuals are facing the cost of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is routinely snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s seen the remarkable increase in everyday items.

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

‘I was like, ‘What 10p more expensive from yesterday 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 suggest that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be difficult for a lot of individuals this year and I do not believe it’s going to get any much easier.’

Robin Windsor

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

Despite pulling in a remarkable ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ 879 in his business’s organization 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 firm had not traded for some 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 filed accounts, but owed financial institutions ₤ 15,000, implying 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 company, which was repaid.

The company had transported revenues from a ‘wide range of agreements to provide performing arts services within the media market’, documents said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been working on a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly professional Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published photos of himself when the boat docked in South Africa.

Robin formerly told 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 actually not traded for a long time (pictured on the program in 2013)

He likewise recalled one time he earned ‘silly cash’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were as soon as paid ₤ 10,000 each to stay in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an event. Our dance lasted 2 minutes.’

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

He said: ‘All of a sudden, I was earning 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 show such as the trip and private efficiencies.

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

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

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was drastically sacked by managers last year following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was once considered a favourite among Strictly fans, however last year he was drastically sacked by employers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

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

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘ravaged’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply are sorry for the occasions that resulted in 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 show

‘My extreme passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s just ideal for the sake of the program that I step away. I am distressed that I wasn’t allowed to provide 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 not able to discuss at this time, however I am devoted to being strong for my family and buddies. I want the Strictly household nothing but success in the future.’

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

The dancer charged $100 (₤ 78) for a video message, and continued to refer to 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 many fans, Oti is thought about one of 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 appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and likewise made a reported ₤ 200,000 cost for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year

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

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 wage before she left the show in 2022, and given that her exit has collected a huge fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Since then, 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 joining 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 partner Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually noted possessions 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 improving’ underwear range, and she and other half Marius likewise share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of possessions in 4 private business, which they co-own. consisting of the home company, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties as of in 2015.

And Oti has only added to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Celeb 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 actually cashed in with a string of stage roles

However, the dancer has actually previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his vehicle while attempting to kickstart his performing 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 declared ₤ 104,993 in its most current assets with ₤ 42,234 staying after bills.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his vehicle while trying to start his carrying out career, while juggling it with a workplace task.

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

‘I spent loads of time sleeping in my car – essentially living out of my automobile – 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 – regular workplace jobs, just attempting to sustain my dancer profession.

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

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and state, » Oh, there’s been an issue 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 cashed in on their joint weight reduction in recent years, establishing a 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 fit 2 years lateer.

James has actually appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, returned a couple of 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 over the last few years, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe.

The pair offered their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million earlier this year and have actually considering 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 recently had ₤ 774,023 in properties and ₤ 465,002 after expenses.

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