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

For audiences tuning into BBC’s megahit Strictly Come Dancing, they would be best in presuming that its stars need to be making a large fortune.

Whether it be the vigorous hours of training, or being an on-screen component for weeks on end, the show’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 earn a pretty penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for the majority of it’s a wholly various story.

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

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the most current stars to be struck by the notorious ‘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 expose the fact about how for numerous, the money stops as soon as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

Kristina formerly appeared on Strictly as an expert from 2008 to 2015, making headlines when she started a love with her celebrity partner Ben Cohen.

However, last year, the fears that they might lose their home after being struck by money problems, with Ben laying bare their financial problems in court.

The extent of the couple’s battles were laid bare in uncommon circumstances – throughout a court look last September when Kristina, 47, was captured driving without insurance coverage.

Giving proof throughout the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had bungled the handling of their vehicle insurance plan and informed how he was ‘combating to save his relationship and home’.

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

‘Those near to them who understand them as a couple had actually hoped they would be able to work things out however for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back.’

The couple were entrusted 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 told the court: ‘I get up every day and I combat not to lose everything – to lose my vehicles and my home and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.’

In 2015 the couple shared fears that they could lose their home after being struck by money problems, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court (envisioned in 2021)

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

‘We’re in company together so the problem is that we opened the company before Covid and we got the worst intensities of it and in all honestly 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 company debt since of Covid. It’s just another issue.’

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

Records also expose that a food services company called Soo Greens Ltd which is 100 per cent owned by Soo Yoga Group Ltd was efficiently ₤ 6,633 in the red, taking into consideration future liabilities, in its last represent 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 almost 29 months overdue.

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 three other individuals was also integrated and voluntarily struck off on the exact same dates.

A 5th business 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 likewise nearly 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

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

AJ initially 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 actually previously wanted to kickstart a new period of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his scheduled dance trip, plunging himself and brother Curtis into debt.

Speaking to MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash problems 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 cut short. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I seemed like that was the ideal thing to do. We ended up with a VAT 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 company.

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

AJ said it is hard when a great deal of his good friends believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he described that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is no place near that.

The dancer said: ‘I think a lot of people anticipate you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and instantly be a millionaire. Once you have actually paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a limited 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 truly desire to talk about their financial resources.

‘And I believe individuals are interested by cash. People enjoy to see numbers and enjoy to see good 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 tossed into a variety of huge cash offers and AJ says some individuals have no idea how to manage that kind of amount of cash.

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

AJ became very open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars need to discover how to ‘adapt’ their career.

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 earns is no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s really tough I think in our market, the show business and a lot of other markets right now because a lot of individuals are being laid off. It does play on your psychological health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have actually invested cash, from my very first pay check on Strictly I have actually always had that money invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job 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 constantly jobs out there. It’s simply often needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is difficult however you do have to adjust sometimes.

‘It is necessary that people enter into these big shows that they’re enjoying 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, individuals are dealing with the cost of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no different and is routinely snapped back into the ‘genuine world’ as he’s observed the remarkable boost in everyday items.

He described: ‘Each and every single day I’m reminded reality. I pulled 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 income. That’s the real life.

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

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

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with simply ₤ 879 in his company’s service account

Despite pulling in an outstanding ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with just ₤ 879 in his business’s business account.

The dancer was found 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 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 almost ₤ 5,000 the last time it submitted 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 business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the company, which was paid back.

The company had carried profits from a ‘wide range of agreements to provide performing 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 – together with fellow Strictly professional Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and posted pictures of himself when the boat docked in South Africa.

Robin previously told 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 discovered dead in a London hotel in February, and in the wake of his passing it was revealed his firm had not traded for some time (imagined on the show in 2013)

He also remembered one time he earned ‘ridiculous money’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were when paid ₤ 10,000 each to remain in a luxury resort in Mauritius for a week and dance the cha-cha-cha at an occasion. Our dance lasted two 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 actually 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 tour and personal efficiencies.

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

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

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was considerably sacked by managers in 2015 following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott

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

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

The dancer later validated 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 resulted in my departure from Strictly.

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

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

‘While appreciating the BBC HR procedure, I acknowledge it’s just best for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t enabled to provide a quote to the online newspaper article, and I take on board the level of sensitivity of the situation.

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

Following his departure from the show, 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 ‘professional dancer on Strictly’ on his profile.

And the stars who have 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 two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

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

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.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ 410,000 salary before she left the program in 2022, and since her exit has amassed a substantial fortune with a string of successful TV gigs.

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The best Dancer, adding 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 noted as a director of Pure Mabuse Limited, which she established with her hubby Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has actually noted assets of ₤ 510,953, according to its most recent accounts.

In 2022, Oti likewise signed a big-money offer to team up with Bravissimo on a ‘confidence increasing’ underwear range, and she and hubby Marius also share a ₤ 590,000 London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ 750,000 of assets in four private companies, which they co-own. consisting of the property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ 110,582 in properties since in 2015.

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

Kevin Clifton

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

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t always been easy, revealing in 2019 that he used to oversleep his vehicle while attempting to start his performing career

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

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

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

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he said: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll oversleep my cars and truck and then I can pay for two of my dance lessons tomorrow.

‘I invested loads of time sleeping in my automobile – essentially living out of my car – 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 office tasks, just trying to sustain my dancer career.

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I’ve simply been fired from another task. I’ve got four lessons tomorrow; I already can’t pay for 2 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 have to provide you the cash on my next lesson.” James and Ola Jordan

Business: James and Ola Jordan have capitalized their joint weight reduction in recent years, establishing a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his partner Ola following fit 2 years lateer.

James has actually 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 capitalized their joint weight loss in recent years, establishing a physical fitness site called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 per month to subscribe.

The set sold their Kent mansion for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have given that downsized to a home more ‘ideal’ 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 possessions and ₤ 465,002 after costs.

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

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC