Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Strictly 2023: How much do pro dancers get paid?

Viewers only see a fraction of the hard work that goes into putting each week’s routine together

Roisin O'Connor
Friday 08 December 2023 11:33 EST
Comments
Thrusts, twerks, and snake hips: First look at Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestants in new BBC trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Every year, Strictly Come Dancing fans meet a whole new roster of contestants, but they also look forward to the return of their favourite professional dancers.

While the pros have a strong fanbase of their own, we only see a fraction of the work that stars from Giovanni Pernice to Katya Jones do on the show.

Behind the scenes, they take part in a gruelling training schedule with their partners, which can take up to 14 hours a day, and also choreograph the routines themselves.

While the BBC has never confirmed each professional dancer’s salary, it has been widely reported that each one is paid a flat fee of between £35,000 to £50,000 to appear on the show.

However, each dancer gets several opportunities to top this up, on the Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour as well as in stage shows, musicals and theatre productions.

Many of the professionals take part in P&O cruise tours, which can reportedly earn as much as £90,000 in just 12 weeks.

See the full list of Strictly contestants, from Krishnan Guru-Murthy to Amanda Abbington, here.

This year, the BBC One show turns 21, and will be presented once again by the sparkling duo that is Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 airs every Saturday night from 16 September.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in