When did this show become all about THEM instead of the DANCERS

From The Sun

IT’S usually the X Factor gang holding out for a king’s ransom – but it seems there’s some shenanigans on Strictly Come Dancing too.

Judge Bruno Tonioli and pals Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips and Craig Revel Horwood are apparently doing their own version of the Hussle – to get more moolah for starring in the new series of the BBC1 ballroom hit.

They all pocket £60,000 each for the 12-week contest – but they are well aware their X Factor rivals on ITV1 get TEN TIMES that.

A show insider tells us: “We want to get the deal done so we can start planning for the show in September. None of the deals have been finalised yet, but all the judges are asking for more cash.”

Bruno and Len confirmed to us that their deals haven’t been signed but they have their hands full judging the new series of Dancing With The Stars – the US version of Strictly – which kicks off later this month.

A BBC spokesman sniffed: “We never discuss talent salaries as this information is both private and commercially sensitive.”

Blimey, it’s murder on that dancefloor . . .

why can't everyone get paid the same? but you're right, it's about the dancers not the judges!!!!

If anyone should get a pay rise, it should be the dancers!

The judges are being this greedy, I will judge the show in September for £50.

Has the price of Botox gone up all of a sudden

I'll do it for the stageside seat-and make at least as good comments!!

I'll do it for the seat as well. Who do we send the CVs to? I will give constructive comments and make sure that the dancers get far more credit than at present.
Last edited by flotsam : 10-03-2008 at 14:38

£60'000 is more than enough to sit on a chair once week!
Give the poor pro dancers who work every blooming day training the celebs and doing there on dances more money!!!

Rather than sitting on ones backside and making a few comments.

Totally agree-give the pros the pay rise. Poor Hanna Kartunnen should be getting compensation from series 1 given who she was paired with.

It might ease the trauma she must still be experieincing

Just seems a little unfair that the people that are doing all the work i.e. the dancers get so little in comparison, I seem to remember last year that they got a fixed rate of £24,000 for the series. Doesn't seem quite right , judges turn up on a Sat are rude and critical whilst sitting on their backsides doing nothing, aprat from some of them running for their plane to get more money for appearing in the US version and they get 60K. Dancers give up a month of their time before the show, train 5 sometimes 6 or 7 days a week often 8 hours or so a day and have to be available for ITT during the week, plus put up with all the bruising and possible injuries from dancing with novices and they get 24K. i think the BEEB and the judges need a reality check, the real reason the public watch is for the dancers. We would happily watch any show with only the dancers in but would we watch a show with only the judges!!

I say, if the judges don't like what they're being paid, sack 'em. I'd be sad to see Craig go, and must admit to always enjoying Bruno however ridiculous he is, but wouldn't miss Len or Arlene, and none of them IMO is irreplacable.

I'll second that, after all they're the ones that do most of the work on the show. Judges have the option to leave if they're not happy, someone should remind them of that fact. Just got too big for their boots, all four of them.
Last edited by china doll : 10-03-2008 at 15:04

They certainly aren't worth more than the dancers so there is no reason that they should be paid any more than they already receive. It is just greedyness. Give the dancers a pay rise and if the judges ask for any more money tell them that if they aren't happy then they can just leave.

I'm sorry, but remind me what the judges do?

And then compare it with what the pros do. I think we can see who deserves more.

PMs for you Soapy

I think the pros should get the most money!! they work so hard training the celebs, and what do the judges do just sit there once a week holding up a paddle and giving comments!!

totally agree!!!

I agree - the pro dancers do all of the hard work (physically and emotionally) - every day of the week.
So if there is additional money in the budget - they should get it!

Part of the payment of the judges is for their expertise (hmmm) and years of experience, not the time they sit watching. ie - the Beeb are never going to pay me £60,000 to comment - or even £50! (Even if I were reasonably famous!)

BUT the same applies to the pros (plus they do all the training etc) - indeed many of the pros have as much experience of ballroom as certain of the judges, and some of the pros are more qualified to judge than some of the judges. So why the pros are so undervalued beats me.

I can be unneccesarily rude, arrogant, fatuous and vain. I frequently talk over people, have an exagerrated sense of my own importance and suffer from selective vision syndrome...

Can I be a judge too? I'll do it for the train fare!

I'll do it too

Think there are 4 of now! See you in October!! Think what we've saved the BBC.

*goes off to practise irrelevant , rude comments*

Hope someone is busy practising alliterations!

Grrrrr, if they don't like it they can vote with their feet. We could do with some different judges.

It winds me up that our fantastic pros don't get much of a look in. They are rarely credited with appearances or choreo (weren't even on the end credits of Brucie's birthday bash as I remember) and are rearely invited on things like Sat Kitchen or SFTW in their own right as the celebs and judges are, except perhaps with their celeb partners. They deserve so much more appreciation IMO, not to mention dosh! No pros no show.

i read a while ago that the pros get more than the judges during the series, but on tour the judges got paid much more.
it seems very unfair, but i guess the jusges think they are 'celebrities' now!