Strictly Come Dancing professionals ‘fight for a pay rise’ after their tours are cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic
Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancers are reportedly fighting for a pay rise from the show after their extra income earned from tours is lost amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes after it was reported that show bookers are able to ‘double’ what they have paid for celebrity contestants in the past.
As reported in The Sun, the salary of the pro-dancers is £50,000 no matter how long they have been on the show, with the judges earning between £150,000 and £250,000.
Hopeful: Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancers are reportedly fighting for a pay rise from the show after their extra income earned from tours is lost amid the coronavirus pandemic
A source told the publication: ‘The pros feel they are struggling now that the tours have all had to be cancelled. They feel they deserve more considering how much work they put in for six months of the year, and often the days can be really long and arduous.
‘The BBC keeps control of other business deals they do outside of the show and they are limited to the job offers they can accept.
‘The dancers hope that if they join together and put a case forward, the producers will appreciate their worth as many are stars in their own right now, with big fan followings.’
The BBC declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
Working hard: the salary of the pro-dancers is £50,000 no matter how long they have been on the show, with the judges earning between £150,000 and £250,000
This comes as The Mirror reported that bosses are offering Radio One DJ Maya Jama a ‘six-figure fee’ to join the line up.
A source told the publication: ‘Maya ticks every box. She is young, beautiful, popular, bright, talented and has a big social media following.
‘To get her this year would be a real coup. They have a six-figure fee on the table.’
The source said: ‘The pros feel they are struggling now that the tours have all had to be cancelled’
They continued: ‘They feel they deserve more considering how much work they put in for six months of the year, and often the days can be really long and arduous’
Maya’s representatives and the BBC have been contacted for comment.
Recently it was revealed that Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly offering doubled fees to celebrities to ensure the series can go ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Sources claim TV executives are keen for the series ‘to remain the jewel in the BBC’s crown’ and have already put forward contract proposals in a bid to attract a ‘stellar line-up’ for this year’s upcoming series.
Dream contestant: This comes as The Mirror reported that bosses are offering Radio One DJ Maya Jama a ‘six-figure fee’ to join the line up
Former contestants are believed to have been paid ‘five figures’, with singer Anastacia and JLS star Aston Merrygold thought to be the show’s most expensive signings for their respective stints in 2016 and 2017.
Now there are fears on whether the show can go ahead at all, with sources telling The Mail On Sunday that BBC executives have held several crisis meetings over how they will attract a high standard of celebrity contestants given that social distancing rules look set to remain for months.
Strictly sources say it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract stars with families to consider joining the show when it could mean they have to live away for a prolonged period to avoid spreading Covid-19.
Not looking good: Now there are fears on whether the show can go ahead at all, with sources telling The Mail On Sunday that BBC executives have held several crisis meetings