The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing is returning to our screens with big-name celebrities such as Will Mellor, Helen Skelton and Kym Marsh looking to win the Glitterball trophy in Strictly 2022. They will be guided through each step of the way by their professional dancers - but how does the appearance money compare between the stars and the pro dancers?
Each year the professionals put together spectacular dance routines for their partners, all while performing in elaborate dance sequences with their professional crew. Dancers like Gorka Marquez, Oti Mabuse and Giovanni Pernice have to put years of dance training to prepare themselves for their gruelling schedules ahead of the weekly Saturday night show.
While people might think all that work and training comes with a hefty salary, the Mirror says that the Strictly professionals aren't paid as highly as you would think. The BBC has never officially revealed what the dancers are paid, but it has been reported that each receives a flat fee of between £35,000 to £50,000 - and that comes with a lot of hard work because professionals rehearse for up to 14 hours per day and have to choreograph the routines for their celebrity partners. Training begins in the summer and the show continues until the end of the series in December.
The Mirror says that, for the dancers working six days a week (Monday to Saturday) for 14 hours per day from mid-August through until mid-December, that works out as an average hourly rate of £37.20 per hour - a lot higher than minimum wage, but it's still gruelling work and intense hours for over four months.
There are opportunities to top up their pay. After the show ends in December, the BBC promotes a Strictly Come Dancing tour for fans to see their favourite couples perform again. Taking part in the tour can earn a professional extra income, with a flat fee of £35,000 reported as payment for the tour.
Some dancers such as Gorka, Giovanni and Oti as well as Janette and husband Alijaz also create and star in their own stage tours and productions, which again offer a chance to earn income. Not only this, but starring on cruise ships from companies like P&O cruises can reportedly earn a dancer as much as £90,000 over 12 weeks.
However, all this still less than their celebrity partners. According to sources, each of the celebs taking part in Strictly gets the same flat fee, no matter how famous they are. For taking part in the series, each celebrity is paid £25,000. If they manage to make it past week four, they each pocket a further £40,000. Those who remain in the competition until the quarter-final receive £60,000, with the semi-finalists bringing home £75,000.
The winner of Strictly doesn't just get to bring home the coveted Glitterball trophy. They go home with a whopping £100,000. However, the hefty fees don't come without a price. Many celebrities have suffered injuries and burn out as a result of battling it out in the Strictly Come Dancing series.
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