Strictly dancers to go on strike?
The ballroom experts have reportedly ‘formed an unofficial union’ to push for a salary increase

Strictly Come Dancing may be about to come grinding to a halt as the show’s professional dancers threaten strike action over pay, according to reports.
The ballroom experts, who coach the celebrity contestants, are “said to have formed an unofficial union and banded together to demand more money from the BBC”, according to the Daily Mail.
Under their current deals, each professional is paid £50,000 per series, regardless of how many seasons they have appeared on the show.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Strictly judges, by contract, are believed to get between £150,000 and £250,000 for each series of the BBC1 hit.
An anonymous source told The Sun: “The professionals have been talking among themselves and are going to come together to ask Strictly bosses for a pay rise. They put in incredible hours rehearsing both with their celebrities and also group routines. A lot of them are putting in ten-hour days, which is a lot of dancing.
“It has been on the cards for a long time and they haven’t had a payrise in years. They love the show, they just want to feel their money reflects the amount of work they put in and also the celebrity status and profile that comes with it. Some of them are now almost better known than the celeb contestants and they feel that should lead to more cash - especially when the judges get paid so much just for turning up once a week.
“Some feel it’s a bit of a joke.”
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole, who was dropped from the current series, complained about the pay during a 2008 interview. He told Now magazine: “My money from Strictly just about pays the bills. I don’t have a car. I would like to get one, but until then I’m on the Tube.
“I don’t even own my house. I can’t afford it. I rent where I live.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Labubu: the 'creepy' dolls sparking brawls in the shops
In the Spotlight Craze for the pint-sized soft toys has reached fever pitch among devotees
-
The top period dramas to stream now
The Week Recommends Heaving bosoms and billowing shirts are standard fare in these historical TV classics
-
Women need more pain management during gynecological procedures
Under the radar Pain should no longer be ignored
-
The top period dramas to stream now
The Week Recommends Heaving bosoms and billowing shirts are standard fare in these historical TV classics
-
David Attenborough at 99: a 'radical' voice for climate action
In The Spotlight In his new film 'Ocean', TV's best-known naturalist delivers his strongest message yet
-
Stephen Graham's best TV and film roles
The Week Recommends From Line of Duty to Adolescence, these are the prolific actor's must-watch projects
-
Why are we so obsessed with The Traitors?
In the Spotlight It's the BBC's most scheming, manipulative and treacherous show – and viewers can't get enough
-
Gregg Wallace: a man out of time?
Talking Point MasterChef presenter's downfall shines spotlight on how mistreatment of junior staff has all too often been ignored
-
Gregg Wallace apologises for 'women of a certain age' jibe
Speed Read MasterChef presenter says he was 'not in a good headspace' when he made the comments regarding complainants
-
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – still a 'crown jewel'
The Week Recommends This 'superlative' Tudor drama returns to BBC One and remains 'appointment weekly viewing'
-
Threads: how apocalyptic pseudo-documentary shocked a nation
In the Spotlight The rarely shown nuclear annihilation film will reappear on TV screens this week