Strictly Come Dancing – For Money

When the BBC first aired Strictly Come Dancing (international versions are called Dancing With the Stars) in 2004, it was not half as popular as it has become today. Thanks to the Internet and, especially, social media, the show is now very popular. So how much do the professionals, celebrities and judges earn from taking part in the show? Below is everything you need to know about what each judge, pro and celebrity participant is likely to earn from the series.

How much is involved?

What we know is that each celebrity who signs up to be part of the show is given a standard payment of £25,000 (a Pound sterling is equivalent to about $1.25 USD). However, each one who stays on the dance floor until October will stand to earn an extra £15,000 in addition to the initial £25,000.

Quarter finalists in Strictly Come Dancing stand to take up as much as £60,000 while those who manage to make it to the semifinals go home with as much as £75,000. And the winners? – a whopping £100,000 – all for dancing.

As if that wasn’t enough – the celebs also go on live tours that usually take place in the spring of the year after a season of the series. For instance, the live tour for the 2019 Strictly Come Dancing will take place in the spring of next year.

However, some celebrities have complained about the pay not being enough. One of them is Spice Girl Mel C, who was quoted by the Daily Star as saying; “Strictly is really the only one of those shows that I would consider. I have had a meeting with them. They ask me every year to do it.

The problem is if you do Strictly it’s so high profile and you’ll find yourself in the sidebar of shame every day. And the money’s s***!”

The Times in a recent report claimed that the exact amount BBC pays out to each star taking part in Strictly Come Dancing will never be revealed to the public after BBC chairman Sir David Clementi reportedly backed keeping a “pay loophole.”

So how much do the professionals really make from Strictly?

According to The Sun, each professional who signs up for Strictly can expect to take home £30,000 for each of the series, although big guns such as Anton Du Beke reportedly earn about £5,000 more than the other professional dancers. This has led to some dancers being disgruntled and feeling cheated. Most of the dancers work as many as 14 hours a day training their partners – and the celebrities – and are responsible for choreographing the weekly group dances!

In 2012, there was a big outcry from the dancers, who were then given a £500 wage rise while the judges were smiling all the way home with as much as a £20,000 pay boost.

In 2017, Brendan Cole claimed he earned as much as £35,000, but he told Now magazine: “My money from Strictly just about pays the bills. I don’t have a car. I would like to get one but until then I’m on the Tube. I don’t even own my house. I can’t afford it. I rent where I live.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli is not impressed with the Strictly Come Dancing professionals who are moaning about the payment structure. Tonioli, in a conversation with the Mirror, didn’t mince words and was quoted to have said; “Those are the terms of the negotiations. If you don’t like it, stop moaning and f**k off!”

Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Tonioli, according to various reports, take home as much as £110,000 for every season of the series. Revel has, however, debunked claims that they are handsomely paid. “Strictly Come Dancing is Saturday night fun. The pay’s not amazing.” Len Goodman, who made his last appearance as a judge on the show in 2016, was reportedly earning £120,000. However, what new-judge Shirley Ballas earns is currently unknown.

To add to the Strictly analysis, we have included Betway’s study of contestant criteria over the past 16 series. Below they outline everything you need to know to help predict who might be crowned Series 17’s winner.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

OnVideo News via Email

Get our free new-release newsletter every week in your inbox:

Subscribe to our weekly new-release newsletter. Join here.

Want more? Keep up-to-date with OnVideo's Breaking News, sent straight into your email box. Subscribe here.

Subscribe to OnVideo's Email News