Strictly Judges Demand Six-Figure Deals After Learning What Voice Coaches Earn

The judges on Strictly Come Dancing and the coaches on The Voice are undoubtedly the stars of BBC1’s Saturday night line-up, however they are paid a startlingly different amount, which has left long-serving Strictly judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood absolutely fuming.

After discovering just how much BBC chiefs spent on The Voice, the stars of Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly all been put on six-figure salaries, with the Daily Mail alleging that their new contract involves a £20,000 pay rise.

BBC1 controller Danny Cohen spent £22 million for just two series of hit singing talent show The Voice, with Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am signing a £600,000 deal, crooner Sir Tom Jones agreeing to £300,000, and fellow pop stars Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue on £200,000 and £100,000 respectively.

In stark contrast, the stars of the BBC1 ballroom hit were believed to be on just £90,000 per series, and according to the Daily Mail, after being told of their salaries outspoken Italian choreographer Bruno Tonioli blasted: “Are you kidding? Don’t even go there. The BBC are going to have to make a phone call. It’s about time.”

Last year Simon Cowell lured away former Strictly judge Alesha Dixon to join Britain’s Got Talent with a huge £350,000 deal, and he reportedly pays the judges on the X Factor high six figure salaries.

A Strictly source confirmed to the Daily Mail: “Everyone is signed and happy to come back to Strictly. The judges did receive a small bump in pay, which is well deserved."

“They know that The Voice is a very different show from Strictly, it’s a different beast entirely.”

The Strictly judges have been with the show since the series first debuted in May 2004, and at the time they were each paid £17,000, which was the same as the professional dancers, but since the show’s popularity took off their salaries have steadily increased.

Do you think the Strictly judges should be paid as much as The Voice coaches?

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