Strictly Come Dancing in chaos as judges go to war with BBC bosses
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s four judges are in a “stand-off” with the BBC over pay, The Sun can reveal today.
Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are chasing an inflation-busting 11 per cent salary bump.
It would give respected head judge Shirley, 62, around an extra £55,000 for three months’ work.
Her pay has reportedly hit almost £500,000 from a starting point of £180,000 in 2017.
Motsi, 42, and Craig, 58, who has been on the panel since the show began in 2004, would get a little over £20,000 extra as they are said to be on £200,000.
The pay demand would, if nodded through, give new judge Anton, 56, who replaced Bruno Tonioli, 67, in 2021, a bonus of around £19,000 as he is said to be on around £180,000.
Yet Beeb execs are refusing to kowtow to the demands.
They are more likely to offer somewhere in the region of between three and four per cent, according to sources.
Last night an insider said: “There’s been a lot of talk around contracts but at the moment, there’s something of a stand-off.
“In the blue corner, you have the BBC who are absolutely adamant there will be no bumper deals this year.
“And in the red corner are the judges — and their agents — united in their desire for renewed deals to reflect the economic situation.
“Yes, their salaries are vast, but Strictly is on for a limited time and other opportunities in a cost-of-living crisis are not so forthcoming.”
The insider added: “At the moment the Beeb is holding firm.
“Given the licence fee freeze, and the fact the judges’ salaries are effectively paid by the public, the optics would be terrible if Craig and co were to swan off with tens of thousands of pounds more for a few months’ work.
“And, let’s face it, they’re hardly down the mines.
“At present, it’s safe to say no terms have been agreed, and there’s some way to go in negotiations.”
Strictly, which remains the jewel in the BBC’s Saturday night crown, pays its dance pros a flat fee of around £35,000.
Last night a BBC spokesman declined to comment.