Fuming Strictly pros 'slam judges in WhatsApp messages over pay row'

14 April 2023 , 08:02

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The Strictly judges are said to be asking for bumper pay rises (Image: BBC)

Fuming Strictly Come Dancing pros have reportedly hit out at judges’ demands for a huge pay rise.

Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are said to have asked BBC bosses for a whopping 11 per cent pay rise.

This is on top of their already huge salaries, which are thought to be at least £500,000 for head judge Shirley.

Craig, who has been on the show since 2004, could see his £200,000 fee increase by £22,000 if the rise is granted.

Professional dancer and two-time Strictly winner Motsi is also reportedly asking for a £22,000 bump to her earnings.

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And new judge Anton, who replaced Bruno Tonioli in 2021, is apparently negotiating a £19,000 bonus, as he is understood to be on £180,000.

Pro dancers are said to be 'seething' the judges have asked for a pay increase (PA)

In contrast to the judges’ huge pay packets, professional dancers on the show receive a flat fee of £35,000 per series.

This is despite them often training for up to 10 hours a day, six days a week.

Pro dancers who perform with celebrities are thought to earn considerably more than this, but it is said to vary per person.

In response to the judges’ demands, Strictly dancers are said to have been firing off angry messages in their WhatsApp group.

They are now considering asking for a pay rise too after it emerged the judges could receive an extra five-figure fee each, according to The Sun.

Head judge Shirley Ballas is already on a reported £500,000 salary (BBC/Guy Levy)

An insider told the publication: “The pros are seething. They work their a***s off for three months of the year, while the judges swan in on a Saturday, watch some nice dancing and air their thoughts.

“A few of the dancers mooted the idea of staging their own protest.

“But they are well aware there is a cost of living crisis and they all love and are appreciative of their jobs.”

It is believed the , which is funded by TV licence payers, will turn down the requests and offer a figure in the region of between three and four per cent, according to sources.

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Both the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing declined to comment on this story when approached by the Mirror.

Pro dancers on the show that don't dance with celebs earn a flat rate of £35,000 (BBC)

Strictly will look a little different when it is back on TV screens later this year as It Takes Two host Rylan announced he was quitting the show this month.

The presenter who will take over as his replacement is yet to be announced.

While the celebrity line-up for 2023 is being kept tightly under wraps, there are rumours going around about which stars are set to compete for the famous Strictly glitterball.

Chef Gino D’ACampo and Lioness and I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner Jill Scott are some of the big names being touted.

Former Emmerdale and Downton Abbey star Amy Nuttall and Love Island winner Kai Fagan have also been rumoured.

And in a Strictly first, it is thought Emma and Matt Willis could compete against each other as the first married couple to take part on the show at the same time.

Katie Wilson