'Strictly Come Dancing': Oti Mabuse Denies Professional Dancer Pay Row

Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse has denied the pro dancers are currently embroiled in a pay row.   

It had been claimed the professionals had “ganged together” to demand more money from BBC bosses.

The Sun reported last month that the group each pocket £50,000 per series - a figure that they said doesn’t change depending on length of service or at which point they are voted off. It is also dwarfed by the reported six-figure sums the judges receive. 

However, Oti has spoken out against the claims, insisting the dancers are “very lucky to get whatever fee” they do get.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: “There is no pay row with any of the dancers. We don’t have time to be rowing, we’re too busy focusing on the competition.”

She continued: “We are happy and very grateful to be on TV and have a job. We’re very lucky to be on ‘Strictly’ and get whatever fee we do get.”

A BBC spokesperson previously declined to comment on the matter when approached by HuffPost UK. 

The pro dancers can work up anywhere up to 12 hours a day, often for six days a week during the series, as they train their partners, attend group dance rehearsals, and show run-throughs before the live episodes.  

Judge Bruno Tonioli, previously told the show’s dancers to “stop moaning” about their pay. 

It is thought he is on at least £150,000 per series, despite only working on the show for one day each week. 

He told The Mirror in 2015: “Those are the terms of the negotiations. If you don’t like it, stop moaning and fuck off. The BBC will never pay the kind of fees that ITV will pay.

“‘Strictly’ has not made me a millionaire. I still live in the same apartment I bought in 1991, before Strictly. But I never moan. The BBC do a wonderful job.”

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One. 

Read the full interview with Oti in this week’s OK! magazine, out now.