How Much Do Strictly Contestants Get Paid? Reported Fees, Bonuses and Prize Money Explained

People love the sparkle, the spray tans, the awkward first cha-cha and the emotional final waltz, but one question always comes up once Strictly Come Dancing returns: how much do Strictly contestants get paid?

It is a fair question. The celebrities do not just turn up on Saturday night, learn a few steps and go home. They spend long days in training rooms, deal with aching feet, face live TV pressure, sit through judges’ comments, and give up a huge chunk of their normal working life for the show. So yes, they are paid.

The catch is that the BBC does not usually publish exact Strictly contestant salaries, so most figures are based on reported fees, media claims and industry estimates. That means the numbers should be read as “widely reported” rather than officially confirmed. Still, the same pay bands appear again and again in reports, giving fans a pretty clear idea of how the money side of the ballroom works.

Quick Answer: How Much Do Strictly Contestants Get Paid?

The short answer is that Strictly celebrities are widely reported to receive a starting fee of around £25,000 for signing up to the show. That figure can rise if they stay in the competition for longer.

Reports often claim the pay structure looks something like this:

• Around £25,000 for taking part
• Around £40,000 if they survive the early weeks
• Around £60,000 if they reach the later stages, often linked with the quarter-finals or Blackpool week
• Around £75,000 for finalists
• Around £100,000 for the winner

So, when people ask how much do Strictly contestants get paid, the answer depends on how far the celebrity gets. An early exit may mean the basic appearance fee, while a finalist or winner can reportedly walk away with a much bigger total.

That is why the phrase reported Strictly fees matters. These are not published BBC payslips. They are the figures most often repeated in entertainment reporting.

Reported Strictly Contestant Fees by Stage

The most common claim is that every celebrity starts on a similar flat fee. This is usually said to be around £25,000, even if one contestant is a soap star, another is a sports presenter, and another is a singer or comedian.

That makes Strictly a little different from some other celebrity shows. On programmes like I’m a Celebrity, famous names are often believed to negotiate very different deals. On Strictly Come Dancing, the idea is that the starting fee is more even.

The real difference comes later. If a contestant survives the first few eliminations, their total pay reportedly increases. This is where the Strictly pay scale becomes interesting.

A celebrity who leaves in the first couple of weeks may only receive the starting amount. Someone who gets through the early part of the series may reportedly move up to around £40,000. Those who reach the bigger milestone weeks, especially the later live shows, are often said to earn around £60,000.

By the time contestants reach the Strictly final, the reported figure can rise again to around £75,000. The winner is often said to receive around £100,000 in total.

That does not mean the winner gets a giant separate cash jackpot on the night. It is better understood as a higher total payment for going all the way.

Do All Strictly Celebrities Get Paid the Same?

Reports usually suggest that Strictly contestants start on the same basic fee. That is one reason fans often debate the show’s money side. Someone with decades of TV experience might appear to receive the same starting payment as someone newer to mainstream audiences.

In reality, private contracts can be complicated, and no outsider can see every detail. But the common understanding is that Strictly keeps its celebrity fees more controlled than some commercial reality shows.

That makes sense for the BBC. Strictly Come Dancing is a huge Saturday night show, but it also sits under a public-service broadcaster. Huge celebrity bidding wars would attract criticism, especially when viewers are already curious about BBC salaries, presenter pay and TV licence fee spending.

So, while exact contracts are private, the show is usually described as having a fairly standard celebrity appearance fee with extra payments for those who last longer.

Do Contestants Get Paid More the Longer They Stay?

Yes, according to repeated reports, Strictly celebrities get paid more the longer they remain in the competition.

That is one of the reasons the show can feel so intense. Getting through another week does not just mean more dancing, more applause and more screen time. It may also mean a higher fee.

A contestant who survives the early weeks has to keep training, keep performing and keep showing up for the full Strictly machine. Their week may involve hours of rehearsal, costume fittings, camera blocking, interviews, social media filming and the live Saturday show.

By the later stages, the pressure is bigger too. The dances are harder, expectations are higher, and the audience knows the celebrities well enough to judge their improvement. That is why reported bonuses or rising payments do not feel surprising.

Still, the money should not be overplayed. Strictly is not usually seen as the biggest-paying celebrity TV show in the UK. For many contestants, the real value is the career boost, the public warmth, and the chance to be seen by millions of viewers in a new way.

Does the Strictly Winner Get Prize Money?

The Strictly Come Dancing winner receives the famous Glitterball Trophy. That is the prize everyone talks about on screen.

When it comes to money, reports often say the winner can receive up to around £100,000 in total. But this is usually described as the top end of the contestant fee rather than a traditional prize fund.

So, if you are asking whether Strictly has a huge separate cash prize, the answer appears to be no. The trophy is the public prize. The money is part of the contestant’s reported contract and stage-based payment.

That is why a winner does not just leave with bragging rights. They also leave with months of national exposure, a stronger public profile, possible Strictly live tour opportunities, and a much bigger platform for future work.

How Much Do Strictly Professional Dancers Get Paid?

The professional dancers are the backbone of the show, but their pay works differently from the celebrity contestants.

Strictly professional dancers are widely reported to earn a flat fee of around £35,000 to £50,000 for the series. That fee covers a lot more than the Saturday night performance.

The pros choreograph routines, train their celebrity partners, perform in group numbers, attend rehearsals, handle press work and carry much of the technical weight of the show. If a celebrity looks good on the dance floor, it is usually because their pro has spent days breaking down steps, building confidence and hiding weaknesses.

Some of the biggest names among the Strictly pros may earn much more away from the main show. A popular dancer can make extra money through theatre tours, cruises, books, podcasts, brand deals, dance classes and personal appearances.

That is why the BBC series fee is only part of the picture. For a well-known pro, Strictly can be the platform that powers the rest of their career.

Do Strictly Pros Get Bonuses Like the Celebrities?

Most reports suggest that Strictly professionals do not get paid in the same way as the celebrity contestants. The celebrities are the ones most often linked with rising stage-based fees.

The pros are generally said to receive a flat series fee. That means a professional dancer may not automatically earn more just because their celebrity partner reaches the final.

But staying in longer still matters. A pro who reaches the final gets more airtime, more memorable routines and more public attention. That can help with future tour bookings, fan support, media work and long-term earning power.

So, while the pro may not get the same kind of weekly bonus structure, they still benefit from a strong run on the show.

How Much Do the Strictly Judges Get Paid?

The Strictly judges’ salaries are another major search topic. Fans often want to know whether the judges earn more than the contestants and dancers.

Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are all reported to earn far more than the celebrity contestants. That is not unusual, because the judges return year after year and are part of the show’s identity.

Craig Revel Horwood has often been reported at around £200,000 per series. He is the longest-serving judge and one of Strictly’s most recognisable faces.

Shirley Ballas, as head judge, has been reported in some media stories as earning much more, with figures often claimed to be around £500,000. Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are usually reported in the lower six-figure range, though exact salaries are not publicly confirmed.

These figures are best treated as reported Strictly salaries, not official numbers. But they do show the difference between a one-series celebrity contestant and a long-term judge.

How Much Do Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman Get Paid?

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman became a huge part of Strictly’s identity. For years, they were the calm, funny and familiar faces holding the live show together.

Their Strictly pay has often been reported at around £150,000 each per series, although wider BBC earnings and other work can make presenter income harder to separate.

It is also worth noting that Tess and Claudia announced they would leave Strictly Come Dancing after the 2025 series. That means future presenter pay may change depending on who replaces them.

For readers searching how much do Claudia and Tess get paid for Strictly, the safest answer is that both have been widely reported to earn around £150,000 each for Strictly, but exact current contract details are not publicly confirmed.

Why Are Exact Strictly Salaries Hard to Confirm?

The reason there is so much confusion around Strictly Come Dancing pay is simple: most contracts are private.

The BBC does publish information about some high earners, but not every Strictly-related payment is easy to separate. Some work may involve BBC Studios, outside production arrangements, tour earnings, other BBC programmes or private commercial deals.

That is why one article may mention a presenter’s wider BBC earnings, while another focuses only on the Strictly fee. The same person may appear to have different salaries depending on what is being counted.

Celebrity contestants are even harder to pin down. Their contracts are not usually published, and the BBC does not release a neat list of Strictly contestant fees every year.

So, the best way to write about this topic is to use careful language: reportedly paid, said to earn, widely claimed, media reports suggest.

How Strictly Pay Compares With Dancing with the Stars

The US version, Dancing with the Stars, is often believed to pay celebrities more than Strictly.

Reports around DWTS contestant salaries have suggested a starting fee of around $125,000, with extra payments for celebrities who stay longer in the competition. Some reports have placed the maximum total much higher than Strictly’s reported winner fee.

That difference makes sense. Dancing with the Stars is part of the American entertainment market, where TV budgets, advertising money and celebrity fees can be very different from the UK.

So, while Strictly is one of the biggest shows on British TV, it may not offer the same level of celebrity pay as its US cousin.

Still, Strictly offers something money cannot always buy: a warm family audience, months of prime-time exposure and a chance to completely change public perception.

Is Appearing on Strictly Worth More Than the Fee?

For many celebrities, the biggest reward is not the cheque. It is what comes after the show.

A strong Strictly run can revive a career, introduce someone to a younger audience, soften their public image, or move them from niche fame into mainstream TV. Former contestants often go on to get presenting work, theatre roles, radio appearances, podcasts, panel show bookings and brand deals.

That is why even a reported £25,000 Strictly fee can be worth much more in the long run. The exposure can last for years.

A celebrity who reaches the final is not just earning more from the show. They are also getting more dances, more interviews, more headlines, more social media clips and more emotional connection with the audience.

That kind of attention can be worth far more than the original appearance fee.

How Much Does Craig Get Paid for Strictly?

Craig Revel Horwood is widely reported to earn around £200,000 for judging Strictly Come Dancing.

His fee makes sense when you consider his role on the show. Craig has been part of Strictly from the beginning, and his sharp comments, low paddles and dramatic delivery have become part of the programme’s personality.

He may also earn extra money from stage work, tours and other entertainment projects away from the main BBC series. But for Strictly itself, the most commonly reported figure is around £200,000 per series.

How Much Do Claudia and Tess Get Paid for Strictly?

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have often been reported to earn around £150,000 each for presenting Strictly Come Dancing.

That figure usually refers to their Strictly role rather than every other job they do. Claudia, for example, has had other major BBC projects, while Tess has also worked across entertainment and fashion.

Because presenter earnings can involve more than one programme or contract, it is best not to treat one number as their full yearly income. But for the specific search how much do Claudia and Tess get paid for Strictly, around £150,000 each per series is the figure most often reported.

Do Strictly Professionals Get Paid More the Longer They Stay In?

Strictly professionals are generally reported to receive a flat fee for the series, usually placed around £35,000 to £50,000.

That means they are not usually described as having the same stage-by-stage pay increase as the celebrity contestants. A celebrity may reportedly earn more by reaching the quarter-final, final or winning the show, but the pro’s main BBC fee is usually said to stay fixed.

However, staying in longer can still help a professional dancer. More weeks on TV means more attention, more fan support, more memorable routines and better chances of being booked for tours or other projects.

So, they may not get paid more directly for lasting longer, but a long run can still be very valuable.

How Much Does Julianne Hough Get Paid for Dancing with the Stars?

Julianne Hough’s exact Dancing with the Stars salary as co-host has not been officially confirmed.

Some US entertainment reports discuss high payments for DWTS hosts and contestants, but there is no reliable public figure that clearly confirms Julianne’s current hosting salary. Because of that, it is better to avoid giving a firm number.

What can be said is that Julianne Hough is a major part of the DWTS brand. She has worked on the show as a professional dancer, judge and host, which makes her more than a standard presenter. Her value comes from her history with the programme, her dance background and her name recognition.

For comparison, Dancing with the Stars contestants are often reported to start around $125,000, which is much higher than the reported starting fee for Strictly celebrities. But Julianne’s personal hosting salary remains unconfirmed.