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How Strictly’s Popular Dancers have Wound Up In Debt

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

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

However, while it has actually been presumed that Strictly experts must earn a quite penny, and years of success, through their time on the show, for the majority of it’s an entirely different 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 troubles, with some even facing the prospect of losing their homes.

Recently, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff become the current stars to be struck 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 lagged their split.

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

Kristina Rihanoff

How Strictly’s popular dancers have ended 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 headings when she began a love with her star partner Ben Cohen.

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

The extent of the couple’s battles were laid bare in unusual situations – throughout a court appearance 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 vehicle insurance coverage and told how he was ‘battling to conserve his relationship and home’.

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

‘Those close to them who understand them as a couple had actually hoped they would have the ability 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 financial obligations after they ploughed 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 fight not to lose everything – 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 struck by money issues, with Ben laying bare their monetary concerns in court (imagined in 2021)

When questioned about the stress on his and Kristina’s relationship, he said: ‘We’re still living together. 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 intensities of it and in all honestly this is simply another problem for me to handle.

‘I have actually got charge card that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have actually got a service financial obligation because of Covid. It’s just 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 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 efficiently ₤ 6,633 in the red, taking into account future liabilities, in its last accounts for the period ending on July 31, 2020.

The business’s represent the year ending in July 2021 have still not been filed 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 established in December 2021 and dissolved by a voluntary strike off in February this year without ever submitting accounts.

A 4th business called Soo Group Ltd which was half owned by Cohen and half owned by three other people was also incorporated and willingly struck off on the very same dates.

A fifth business 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 nearly 29 months past due, according to Companies House records.

AJ Pritchard

AJ initially increased to popularity as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show just months before the Covid pandemic (imagined with Saffron Barker in 2019)

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

AJ first rose to popularity as a candidate on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016 to 2019, leaving the show simply months before the Covid pandemic.

While the star had formerly wanted to start a brand-new age of dance success by leaving the show, the pandemic forced him to cancel his organized dance trip, plunging himself and sibling Curtis into debt.

Speaking with MailOnline, AJ clarified the cash woes 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 interrupted. We paid all of our dancers due to the fact that, 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 make money, myself or Curtis, however we paid all of our dancers. It’s a tough decision to be made, however that’s what it is when you are running your own company.

‘They absolutely did appreciate it. I perhaps didn’t appreciate the financial obligation that I was left in however, hello, it’s a decision that was made.’

AJ said it is hard when a great deal 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 no place near that.

The dancer stated: ‘I believe a great deal of people expect 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 limited company, that’s not even close.

‘I think openness is a positive thing in this day and age, however many people don’t truly wish to speak about their financial resources.

‘And I think people are captivated by money. People like to see numbers and enjoy to see great things, and a lot of times you require to live within your own means.’

After leaving programs such as Strictly and Love Island, Curtis and AJ were thrown into a variety of huge cash deals and AJ says some people have no concept how to deal with that kind of sum of money.

Former I’m A Celeb star AJ revealed he and Curtis ‘wish to make a distinction’ and have established ‘utilizing our own cash’ a financial investment firm called FINT to help to ‘educate’ individuals.

AJ became extremely open about how often the TV bookings and photoshoots can suddenly stop and stars have to find out how to ‘adapt’ their career.

AJ said it is hard when a great deal of his buddies believe he’s a ‘millionaire’ after starring on Strictly, as after they paid their taxes and VAT, the figure he makes is no place near that

He continued: ‘It’s truly tough I believe in our industry, the entertainment industry and a great deal of other today due to the fact that a great deal of individuals are being laid off. It does use your mental health if you don’t have that next job.

‘Myself and Curtis have invested money, from my extremely first pay check on Strictly I’ve constantly had that cash invested into different portfolios. Therefore, if I didn’t have a job in six 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 jobs out there. It’s just often needing to change what it is you think you are going to do and adapt a little bit. Adapting is hard but you do need to adapt in some cases.

‘It is essential that individuals enter into these big shows that they’re taking pleasure in 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 cost of living crisis and AJ admitted he is no various and is frequently snapped back into the ‘real world’ as he’s seen the significant increase in everyday products.

He explained: ‘Each and every single day I’m reminded truth. I brought up at the gas pump today and the diesel was 10p more expensive due to decisions that have actually been made much higher up than my income. That’s the genuine world.

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

‘Even when inflation comes down, it does not mean that it goes back to what it was. Life is going to be tough for a great deal of individuals 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 died with simply ₤ 879 in his business’s organization account

Despite drawing in an excellent ₤ 100,000 as a star of Strictly, Robin Windsor unfortunately died with just ₤ 879 in his business’s service 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 actually not traded for some 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 ₤ 5,000 the last time it filed accounts, but owed creditors ₤ 15,000, suggesting it was ₤ 8,350 in the red.

At the height of his star in 2015 and 2016 he held more than ₤ 23,000 in the business and advanced himself ₤ 35,000 from the business, which was paid back.

The company had channelled earnings from a ‘large variety of agreements to supply performing arts services within the media industry’, paperwork said.

In the months prior to his death, Robin had actually been dealing with a Fred Olsen Cruise – along with fellow Strictly expert Gordana Grandosek Whiddon – and published pictures 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 concerned 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 exposed his company had not traded for some time (visualized on the program in 2013)

He likewise remembered one time he earned ‘silly cash’, telling This Is Money: ‘My dance partner and I were once 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 remembered in September 2022 that the ‘best’ year of his financial life was 2010, ‘my very first year on Strictly Come Dancing’.

He stated: ‘All of a sudden, I was generating income I had just dreamt about. I most likely made about ₤ 100,000 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, everybody wants a little slice of you.’

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

Graziano Di Prima

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

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

Graziano was as soon as thought about a favourite amongst Strictly fans, but in 2015 he was drastically sacked by managers following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The dancer later verified and regretted his actions versus Zara.

Addressing his exit from the program, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima composed on Instagram: ‘I deeply are sorry for the events that resulted in 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 extreme enthusiasm and determination to win might have impacted my training program.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s just ideal for the sake of the program 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 sensitivity of the situation.

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

Following his departure from the program, Graziano attempted to cash on his appearances on the show, with customised 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 successful exports, with the dancer crowned series champ for two years in a row, in 2019 and 2020

Since then, she has actually appeared as a judge on Dancing On Ice, and also made a reported ₤ 200,000 charge for her stint on I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015

For many fans, Oti is thought about among Strictly’s most effective exports, with the dancer crowned series champion 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 show in 2022, and considering that her exit has generated 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 likewise a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, contributing to a rumoured fortune of more than ₤ 1.4 million.

Before joining 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 set up with her other half Marius Iepure, which was established in February 2017, and has listed possessions of ₤ 510,953, according to its most current accounts.

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

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

And Oti has actually only included to her fortune in recent months by appearing on I’m A Star Get Me Out Of Here! where she was supposedly paid a ₤ 200,000 charge.

Kevin Clifton

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

However, the dancer has actually formerly shared that it hasn’t constantly been simple, revealing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his vehicle while trying to start 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 firm Supreme Dance stated ₤ 104,993 in its newest assets with ₤ 42,234 staying after bills.

However, the dancer has previously shared that it hasn’t constantly been easy, exposing in 2019 that he used to sleep in his automobile while attempting to start his performing profession, while handling it with a workplace job.

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

‘I spent loads of time sleeping in my car – generally living out of my vehicle – 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 – regular workplace jobs, simply attempting to sustain my dancer profession.

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

‘I’m going to have to blag it with the instructor and say,” 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 loss in current years, establishing a fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 each month to subscribe

James Jordan left Strictly in 2013 with his spouse Ola doing the same 2 years lateer.

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

The couple have actually cashed in on their joint weight-loss in recent years, setting up a physical fitness website called Dance Shred where they charge ₤ 12.99 monthly to subscribe.

The pair sold their Kent estate for ₤ 2.5 million previously this year and have since scaled down to a home more ‘appropriate’ for their child Ella.

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

They earn additional cash by selling signed photos for ₤ 9.50 while Ola provides dance lessons to fans at ₤ 300 a pop.

Strictly Come DancingBen CohenBBC