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 that its stars should be earning a significant fortune.

Whether it be the tireless hours of training, or being an on-screen fixture for weeks on end, the show’s professional dancers have actually helped make the series a fascinating watch throughout the fall months.

However, while it has been presumed that Strictly experts should make a pretty cent, and years of success, through their time on the program, for most it’s a wholly different story.

Pros who have bid goodbye to the Strictly dancefloor in the last few years have actually shared their struggles with piling financial obligations and money troubles, with some even dealing with the possibility of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the most recent stars to be struck by the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ after their 12-year romance ended in heartbreak. MailOnline then revealed it was the extreme monetary problems they had just recently experienced are believed to have actually been behind their split.

MailOnline peels back the glitter behind Strictly stars’ incomes to expose the reality about how for lots of, the cash stops as quickly as the ballroom lights go dark …

Kristina Rihanoff

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

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

However, last year, the couple shared fears that they might lose their home after being struck by cash troubles, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court.

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

Giving proof during the case, England World Cup winning rugby star Ben, 46, confessed he had mishandled the handling of their automobile insurance plan and told how he was ‘battling to save his relationship and home’.

A friend of the couple informed the Mail he stated: ‘The previous 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 go forward as separate individuals.

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

The couple were entrusted to debilitating financial obligations 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 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 fears that they could lose their home after being hit by cash concerns, with Ben laying bare their financial woes in court (pictured in 2021)

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

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

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

The business was noted to be compulsorily struck off on December 27, 2022, however the action was suspended nine 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 successfully ₤ ۶,۶۳۳ in the red, taking into consideration 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 actually still not been filed and are now nearly 29 months past due.

Another company called Soo Purple Mountain Ltd which is also owned by the Soo Yoga Group, was established in December 2021 and liquified 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 three other individuals was likewise incorporated and willingly struck off on the exact same dates.

A 5th company called Yoga Wellbeing which is 100 percent owned by Rihanoff was ₤ ۵,۰۴۱ at a loss, taking into consideration future liabilities, at the end of July 2020. Its accounts are likewise almost 29 months overdue, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

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

But AJ has considering that clarify the money issues some Strictly stars can face, and shared that he was plunged into debt when his dance tour was cancelled in 2020

AJ initially increased to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the program simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly wanted to start a new age of dance success by leaving the program, the pandemic required him to cancel his organized dance trip, plunging himself and bro Curtis into financial obligation.

Speaking with MailOnline, AJ shed light on the money issues some Strictly stars can face after leaving the program.

He stated: ‘We had a business where we were running our own trip and the trip was interrupted. We paid all of our dancers since, personally, I felt like that was the ideal thing to do. We wound up with a VAT costs 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 appreciate it. I maybe didn’t value the debt that I was left in but, hey, it’s a choice that was made.’

AJ said it is hard when a lot of his buddies believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, however, he explained that after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he earns is nowhere near that.

The dancer stated: ‘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 think transparency is a positive thing in this day and age, however the majority of individuals don’t actually desire to talk about their finances.

‘And I believe people are captivated by cash. People love to see numbers and like to see good 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 tossed into a number of big money deals and AJ states some people have no concept how to deal with that sort of amount of cash.

Former I’m A Celebrity star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘desire to make a distinction’ and have established ‘using our own cash’ 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 discover how to ‘adapt’ their profession.

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 earns is no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s really tough I think in our market, the home entertainment market and a lot of other industries today since a great deal of people are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next task.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested cash, from my extremely first wage on Strictly I’ve constantly had actually that money invested into various portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t work in six months time, I do have money there that I can make use of if I require it.

‘And at the end of the day, there are constantly tasks out there. It’s just often having to change what it is you believe you are going to do and adjust a little bit. Adapting is hard however you do have to adapt in some cases.

‘It is very important that individuals enter into these huge programs that they’re enjoying however they have a profession behind them like myself and Curt. We’re both professional dancers, we can go all over the world and teach.’

Every day, individuals are facing the expense of living crisis and AJ confessed he is no various and is regularly snapped back into the ‘real life’ as he’s noticed the dramatic boost in daily products.

He discussed: ‘Every single day I’m brought back to truth. I brought up at the gas pump today and the diesel was 10p more costly due to decisions that have actually been made much higher 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 believe individuals forget, the cost of living and inflation’s gone up.

‘Even when inflation boils down, it does not imply that it returns to what it was. Life is going to be difficult for a great deal of individuals this year and I don’t think it’s going to get any much easier.’

Robin Windsor

Despite drawing in a remarkable ₤ ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately passed away with just ₤ ۸۷۹ in his company’s company account

Despite drawing in an impressive ₤ ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor tragically passed away with simply ₤ ۸۷۹ 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 exposed his firm had actually not traded for a long time and according to Companies House Records was facing an ‘active proposal’ to be struck off.

The company Happy Feet Creative Limited was owed practically ₤ ۵,۰۰۰ the last time it submitted accounts, but owed financial institutions ₤ ۱۵,۰۰۰, suggesting it was ₤ ۸,۳۵۰ in the red.

At the height of his celeb in 2015 and 2016 he held more than ₤ ۲۳,۰۰۰ in the business and advanced himself ₤ ۳۵,۰۰۰ from the business, which was repaid.

The business had actually carried profits from a ‘wide array of agreements to supply carrying out arts services within the media industry’, documentation said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had 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 informed how he was paid ₤ ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ a year throughout 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 exposed his firm had not traded for some time (visualized on the program in 2013)

He likewise remembered one time he earned ‘ridiculous cash’, informing This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were when paid ₤ ۱۰,۰۰۰ 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 2 minutes.’

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

He said: ‘Suddenly, I was generating income I had actually just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ that year – not simply 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, everyone desires a little slice of you.’

Speaking about his Strictly exit, Robin said he became so ‘bitter’ about not being allowed to return that he could not bear to enjoy it, and he went into a ‘constant decline’ after leaving the program.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano was dramatically sacked by bosses last year following claims of gross misconduct towards his previous superstar partner Zara McDermott

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

Graziano was once thought about a favourite amongst Strictly fans, however in 2015 he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misbehavior towards his former celeb partner Zara McDermott.

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

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the occasions that resulted in my departure from Strictly.

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

‘My extreme passion and decision to win may have affected my training routine.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just right for the sake of the program that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t permitted to use a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the scenario.

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

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

The dancer charged $100 (₤ ۷۸) for a video message, and continued to describe 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 lots of fans, Oti is thought about among Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for 2 years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Ever since, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and likewise earned a reported ₤ ۲۰۰,۰۰۰ cost for her stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year

For numerous 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.

The dancer was reported to be on a ₤ ۴۱۰,۰۰۰ income 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 looked like a judge on Dancing On Ice, and was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, contributing to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ ۱.۴ 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 hubby Marius Iepure, which was set up in February 2017, and has actually noted possessions of ₤ ۵۱۰,۹۵۳, according to its latest accounts.

In 2022, Oti also signed a big-money deal to collaborate with Bravissimo on a ‘self-confidence improving’ underwear variety, and she and spouse Marius also share a ₤ ۵۹۰,۰۰۰ London mansion.

Between them, Oti and Marius hold ₤ ۷۵۰,۰۰۰ of assets in four private companies, which they co-own. consisting of the property firm, Lionshead, which notched up ₤ ۱۱۰,۵۸۲ in properties since last year.

And Oti has actually only contributed to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! where she was apparently paid a ₤ ۲۰۰,۰۰۰ cost.

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 stage functions

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he utilized to sleep in his car while trying to kickstart 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 declared ₤ ۱۰۴,۹۹۳ in its newest assets with ₤ ۴۲,۲۳۴ staying after expenses.

However, the dancer has formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he utilized to oversleep his car while attempting to kickstart his performing profession, while managing it with an office task.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he stated: ‘If there’s nobody there, I’ll oversleep my car and after that I can afford two of my dance lessons tomorrow.

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

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

‘I was basically searching in my wallet going, I’ve simply been fired from another job. I’ve got 4 lessons tomorrow; I already can’t pay for 2 of them.

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor 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 capitalized their joint weight reduction in current years, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ ۱۲.۹۹ each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his wife Ola following match 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 capitalized their joint weight reduction recently, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ ۱۲.۹۹ each month to subscribe.

The set sold their Kent estate for ₤ ۲.۵ million previously this year and have given that downsized to a home more ‘ideal’ for their daughter Ella.

Much of their earnings is funnelled through their company James and Ola Dance Academy which most recently had ₤ ۷۷۴,۰۲۳ in assets and ₤ ۴۶۵,۰۰۲ after expenses.

They earn additional money by offering signed pictures for ₤ ۹.۵۰ while Ola uses dance lessons to fans at ₤ ۳۰۰ a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC