This year’s Strictly Come Dancing stars are continuing to show off their dance moves every weekend in a bid to take home the coveted glitterball trophy at the end of the series.
Past victors like Alesha Dixon, Stacey Dooley, and Abbey Clancy have all witnessed their fame soar after participating in the BBC One dancing show. Celebrities are reportedly compensated £25,000 merely for gracing the dance floor, and if they manage to surpass the fourth week, they earn an additional £40,000, with the ultimate champion taking home £100,000.
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However, the most substantial gains arise after the show concludes, as contestants become highly sought-after for television appearances and celebrity endorsements. As they battle it out for the coveted prize, Daily Star takes a look at this year’s contestant rich list and who is dancing all the way to the bank
Zara McDermott
(Image: instagram.com/zara_mcdermott)
Former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott is no stranger to the world of influencer marketing, boasting an impressive 1.7 million Instagram followers. With her newfound fame from Strictly Come Dancing, Zara could be looking at a potential £1,822 per sponsored post, according to industry experts.
Beyond her reality TV stints, Zara has earned praise for her BBC projects, including thought-provoking documentaries on topics like rape culture in British schools and disordered eating. She’s also taken on important issues like revenge porn, a topic she investigated after becoming a victim of it following her time on Love Island.
Zara’s entrepreneurial spirit is also evident as she ventured into the fashion world, launching her own clothing line with Missguided and a loungewear brand with lingerie firm Boux Avenue. The stunner has a reported net worth of £230,500 and £270,000
Adam Thomas
(Image: Getty Images)
Actor Adam Thomas, renowned for his roles in popular shows like Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, is a household name on Strictly Come Dancing. The 35-year-old already boasts a substantial following of one million on Instagram, and industry experts predict he could command an impressive £1,109 per sponsored post following his stint on the show.
It was reported in 2016 that Adam quit ITV soap Emmerdale after bosses tried to block him from taking a £100,000 panto role in Newcastle’s Jack and the Beanstalk. A source told The Sun at the time he decided to go with the panto role, adding: “It’s a great payday for him and he’s a popular character on Emmerdale, so the bosses had to let him make his decision in the hope he may come back in the future.”
Adam has also recently launched his own hot sauce business, Oh My Glaze, and won the hearts of the nation when he came in third place on I’m Celebrity in 2016, before going on to land a presenting role on spin off I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp – landing him a tidy sum.
Angela Scanlon
(Image: Getty Images)
Angela Scanlon, known for her presenting roles on The One Show and the makeover series Your Home Made Perfect, is stepping into the world of Strictly Come Dancing. Before her BBC career, the 39-year-old Irish TV host worked on shows for RTE and even had a role on the iconic Robot Wars.
Angela has been recognized for her sense of style and was featured on Vogue’s One to Watch list in 2013 while serving as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton – banking the star a nice cash sum. Angela’s net worth is estimated to be between £1million and £5million, according to online sources.
Bobby Brazier
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Fresh from his Rising Star win at the NTAs, 20-year-old actor Bobby Brazier is ready to dazzle on the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor. With 207,000 Instagram followers already in his corner, Bobby is poised to earn around £332 per sponsored post, according to industry insiders.
Interestingly, Bobby has received coaching from his EastEnders co-star and former Strictly finalist Molly Rainford. She expressed her excitement, saying: “I had no idea Bobby was going for Strictly, but when I found out, straight away I was showing him the frame.”
With his youthful energy and talent, Bobby is one of the youngest contestants this year, and financial experts see substantial earning potential for him after the show. Numerous reports calculate that his earning potential, actor salary and earnings as a model make the star worth an estimated £9million.
Ellie Leach
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, known for her role as troubled teen Faye Windass, is showcasing her dance moves on Strictly Come Dancing. Ellie already has a following of 211,000 on Instagram, and experts estimate that she could earn up to £294 per sponsored post following her time on the show.
While her Coronation Street journey began in 2011, there are plans in place to continue her collaboration with the BBC after this series of Strictly concludes. According to analysis Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Ellie Leach’s net worth is estimated to be around £4 million.
Nigel Harman
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
EastEnders star Nigel Harman, known for his role as heartthrob Dennis Rickman, has taken the leap onto the Strictly Come Dancing stage. Nigel’s career has seen him transition from the soap opera world to Downton Abbey, where he portrayed an evil valet. Last year, he signed a lucrative deal to appear on BBC’s Casualty as Doctor Max. Various online sources estimate the star’s net worth to be approximately £4million.
Nikita Kanda
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hea)
Stunning TV and radio presenter Nikita Kanda, though relatively unknown, is poised for lucrative deals with fashion and makeup giants, according to industry experts. Nikita, originally from Birmingham, currently hosts the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show and has interviewed a wide range of notable figures, from Killing Eve star Sandra Oh to Marvel actress Awkwafina and pop star Nick Jonas. Her net worth is estimated to be around £800k.
Layton Williams
(Image: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)
Layton Williams is undoubtedly a frontrunner for the Glitterball Trophy, given his extensive dance experience from his musical theater background. The 28-year-old performer’s resume includes playing a young Michael Jackson in the West End’s Thriller – Live and the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical after training at the Billy Elliot Academy in Leeds.
Layton also garnered attention for his role as Stephen Carmichael in the TV series Bad Education. While he currently boasts a following of 140,000 on Instagram, financial experts predict he could earn a commendable £206 per sponsored post following his Strictly stint. His exact net worth is unknown, but together with his rising theatre career and newfound fame on Strictly, he is sure to be flying high!
Amanda Abbington
(Image: Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Amanda Abbington, a seasoned actress known for her roles in shows like Sherlock, Mr. Selfridge, and as the voice of Gwen on BBC kids show Dinopaws, quit Strictly Come Dancing this week. With 96,000 Instagram followers, Amanda has the potential to earn up to £193 per post, although her main income source is likely to come from TV appearances.
Amanda, who went through a public split from long-term partner Martin Freeman, had faced financial difficulties in the past due to mismanagement of her finances. However, she remains a passionate dancer and once harboured dreams of performing at the Royal Opera House, even auditioning for the stage show Cats nine times.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
A familiar face to viewers as a news anchor for Channel 4, Krishnan Guru-Murthy has had his share of notable interviews. One of his most famous interviews was with actor Robert Downey Junior, which went viral with over 12 million views on YouTube. Guru-Murthy is estimated to have a net worth of around £2.5m due to his extensive career as a broadcaster.
Annabel Croft
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Former British Number One tennis player Annabel Croft has swapped tennis balls for glitterballs. Born in Kent, England, sportswoman turned commentator Annabel won both Wimbledon and the Australian Open girls’ competitions in 1984, teeing her up for a promising tennis career.
By 1985 she had achieved a career high world ranking of 24th. Annabel still plays a significant role in the world of tennis, presenting Wimbledon coverage each year. She has also hosted TV shows like Treasure Hunt and Inceptor and has worked as a pundit for various broadcasting networks.
She has appeared in numerous TV programmes and game shows from popular 1980s game show Treasure Hunt to the more sombre Famous, Rich and Homeless in 2012. Annabel is reported to be worth £1.2 million. The source of Croft’s capital is almost exclusively her career in TV and radio as she won just £201,254 in prize money across her professional career.
Eddie Kadi
(Image: Getty Images)
Comedian and BBC Radio One Xtra DJ Eddie Kadi is no stranger to the spotlight. He made history as the first British black comedian to headline the O2 Arena in London and has hosted red-carpet shows for BET International and BET Africa in Los Angeles. His recent nominations for prestigious awards demonstrate his rising stature in the entertainment industry. As of 2023, it is believed that Kadi has an estimated net worth of £5 million.
Les Dennis
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Les Dennis, best known as the host of Family Fortunes, started his career as a comedian in Liverpool. He has also made appearances on Coronation Street and in Ricky Gervais’ comedy, Extras. Les is reported be the highest-paid star on Strictly Come Dancing 2023 – earning between £75,000 and £100,000. It follows a modest year’s trading in Les Dennis Ltd, which takes in money from his TV work.
According to reports, the latest accounts for last year show the firm had £17,000 in cash and a net income of £32,228. Les is also a director of a real estate firm called Lescol Property Developments Ltd, which is £65,000 in the red, according to books filed to Companies House. The star’s estimated net worth is unknown but this latest cash boost is surely a welcome boost to his bank account.
Angela Rippon
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Broadcaster Angela Rippon, who broke barriers as the first female journalist to regularly present national TV news, is the oldest contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Throughout her career, Angela has remained active in promoting fitness and health for older generations. Her current net worth is unknown however reports estimate it is somewhere between £2-5million.
Jody Cundy CBE
(Image: Getty Images)
Paralympic swimmer and cyclist Jody Cundy CBE has already achieved remarkable success, winning eight gold medals for Britain. The star has banked some nice sponsorship fees after partnering up with Specialized bicycles, Shimano components, Oakley sunglasses, and Skins compression wear. The star’s exact net worth is unknown but after his £25k payday from Strictly and his endorsements deal payout he is certainly cycling all the way to the bank.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
