has co-hosted alongside since 2014, and is known to make a pretty penny for the role.
However, fans might be surprised to learn that despite reportedly earning £150,000 per series, nearly half of Claudia’s paycheck is lost to taxes.
Endless hours are spent in rehearsals each year as celebrities and professional dancers alike work tirelessly to wow the judges.
While the stars compete for the iconic Glitterball trophy, there’s also a financial incentive to go the distance, with paychecks increasing the further they progress.
Contestants start with a flat fee of £25,000 but can earn up to £100,000 if they win.
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Claudia Winkleman is one of the Strictly Come Dancing show hosts alongside Tess Daly (Image: Instagram)
For the hosts, however, the financial stakes are clearer. Claudia and Tess earn £150,000 each per series according to .
This makes Claudia one of the ’s highest-paid female stars, as she earns an estimated £1 million annually across her different presenting jobs.
However, what seems like an enviable paycheck quickly dwindles under the UK’s tax system.
Once earnings exceed £100,000, the UK tax code gradually reduces the tax-free Personal Allowance.
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The formidable BBC presenter doesn’t earn as much as audiences might expect (Image: Getty)
For every £2 earned over £100,000, £1 of the allowance is lost.
By the time someone earns £125,140, the allowance is entirely gone, leaving an effective tax rate of 60 percent on income in this range.
This means Claudia’s £150,000 Strictly paycheck is slashed, leaving her with closer to £75,000 after tax.
While still substantial, it’s a far cry from the six-figure number audiences think she gets paid.
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Her tax bracket isn’t Claudia’s only workplace concern this year, as Strictly has seen a dip in viewership in 2024 – following a series of controversies and scandals.
Despite ’s historic victory this weekend, fewer people tuned in for the Strictly final than in previous years.
Although the final episode of the dance show was praised as the “best ever” by critics, it peaked with 9.3 million viewers—down from last year’s 9.7 million.
The average audience throughout the season also fell, dropping from 8.8 million in 2023 to 8.6 million this year.
Even the first live show struggled, bringing in just 7.1 million viewers compared to 7.8 million the year before.