Inside Strictly winner's prize and secret incentive to increase competitiveness

16 December 2023 , 18:00

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What do you get if you win Strictly Come Dancing

BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2023 is drawing to end this weekend, and after 12 weeks of dancefloor glitz, one winner will lift the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will host the grand final on Saturday 16 December on BBC One, with the finalists performing three routines to be this year's Strictly Champion. Not only that, but iconic singer Cher will be performing live, while the full cast will reunite for an incredible routine together. And while the judges have been at the helm so far, this week they're only there for guidance - the vote is completely in the public's hands.

The judges will be there for guidance in the upcoming grand final (PA)

This weekend will see Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin and Ellie Leech and Vito Coppola perform their favourite dances, show dances and judge's picks.

But what exactly will the winner get for their hard work? Aside from raising their profiles, all contestants are paid well to appear on the show.

Of course, the only prize that really matters is the glory of raising the Glitterball Trophy - but apparently, that is short-lived, and the celebs don't get to keep the big glitzy one we see them hold up on screen. Instead, they're awarded a smaller version to take home with them.

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And when it comes to cash, Strictly is different to other reality shows, in that there is no negotiation for the flat fee. Unlike I'm A Celebrity, which awarded it's highest ever fee to ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage this year, each Strictly star gets £25,000 to just appear, according to a report in The Sun in 2021. However, this figure has never been officially confirmed.

And as an incentive to keep the celebrities there for the full time, unlike other shows where they leave a few days in, the fee rises to a whopping £40,000 if they make it to the end of October.

Layton and Nikita are one of three couples competing this weekend (PA)

In previous years, contestants were paid £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals, while they are said to get another £15,000 to get to the semi-finals - that equates to £75,000 altogether. The winner, according to reports, gets £100,000 for their time.

And it doesn't stop there - while the series itself is a lucrative endeavour, the tour ensures any celebrity's stint on the show is well worth their time.

The Daily Mail also states the dancers are paid a £50,000 flat fee for each series. Other stars that have taken part in the 21st series this year include reality star Zara McDermott, Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington and broadcaster Krishnan Gury-Murthy.

Amelia Ward