Strictly Come Dancing in chaos as celebs like Michelle Keegan and Jessie J snub show over ‘low’ £60,000 fee

BIG-NAME stars are shunning Strictly Come Dancing because BBC bosses are not splashing enough cash.

Struggling bookers increased offers to a maximum of £60,000 but have already been given their marching orders by celebs including Michelle Keegan.

Others understood to have been approached include singer Jessie J and actresses Tamzin Outhwaite and Gillian Anderson.

Agents are also worried that their clients will not benefit from sharing the limelight with C-listers — after contestants last year included YouTuber Saffron Barker, and Radio 4 vicar the Rev Richard Coles in 2017.

They know their stars can make much more money on rival shows such as I’m a Celebrity, and appear alongside household names.

One respected agent told The Sun: “There’s a new curse of Strictly — they don’t pay and appearing will do nothing for your career.

“It’s not just the chance of you waltzing off with your partner, now the cash is poor and you waltz off into obscurity. No one wants to do it.”

They added: “Look at Kelvin Fletcher, he won it last year and now nothing.

“It’s not worth it for the cash. Big names can earn that doing a few Instagram posts for a clothes firm.

"At least they know that if they go on I’m a Celeb the pay packet is big and the show is massive and they’ll be appearing alongside genuinely famous people.

“The BBC has no problem getting smaller stars like people who left Corrie a while back and have done little since, but the really big names like Michelle, who will draw in the viewers, they are struggling to land.”

Insiders say BBC chiefs had hoped to “save a few quid” this year, due to a reduced filming run and an expectation that stars would be eager to sign up after months out of lockdown.

Despite the concerns, the show remains one of the highest rating entertainment formats on British TV.

This year’s series is expected to look significantly different.

Not only will it be filmed with reduced audiences, it will have just three judges as Bruno Tonioli plans to prioritise his role on US sister show Dancing With The Stars if restrictions on air travel are not relaxed.

Bosses are currently waiting to see whether he may be able to make at least a small number of guest appearances.

Producers have already confirmed the show will have a reduced run, with a smaller number of celebrity contestants and professional dancers.

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