A Strictly Come Dancing star has signed up for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, despite enduring a difficult few months following his split from his wife
A Strictly Come Dancing heartthrob has signed up for Celebrity SAS just weeks after his shock split from his wife and his debt woes. Ben Cohen, 46, might be best known as a rugby player, but he is also known for his stint on Strictly Come Dancing over a decade ago.
Now, reports claim that Ben is preparing for another television appearance after signing up for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. A source has claimed that the former rugby player has had quite a difficult few months in his personal life following the breakdown of his marriage, but is now focused on throwing himself into work.
“Ben has had a difficult few months with his split from Kristina, having to sell their home and also dealing with mounting business debts,” a source said.
“Celeb SAS is not only a good pay day for him, but it’s a new challenge to immerse himself into. Ben is obviously a sportsman and a very physical, competitive player, so if anyone can handle the SAS recruitment process, it’s him,” they added to The Sun.
This won’t be Ben’s first encounter with reality television. As mentioned, in September 2013, Ben participated as a contestant in the eleventh series of Strictly. Then, in January 2016, he took part as a contestant on the third series of The Jump. He won the series in March 2016, beating Dean Cain.
In 2017, he was a contestant on season 7, episode 8 of The Celebrity Chase. In January 2018, he participated in And They’re Off! in aid of Sport Relief. And in December 2023, Ben took part in ITV’s The Real Full Monty to raise awareness of cancer.
While Ben was on Strictly, he met and fell head over heels with his professional dance partner Kristina Rihanoff. Back in March of this year, The Sun reported how Ben and Kristina’s marriage came to an end.
The former couple then welcomed their daughter Milena in 2016 – the same year they bought their family home – and got engaged in 2022, but they’re already selling the house on. The former England rugby star, Ben, ended his marriage to Abby to start a relationship with Russian professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff after they were paired together on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. However, friends have claimed that the couple has now split due to financial difficulties.
A source claimed: “Ben left his wife, Abby, for Kristina, only to now split with her. It’s like the curse in reverse. This will be like karma for Abby; she was so upset when Ben left her. It’s like he has got his comeuppance.”
Another source claimed: “The past six months have been hell for them, and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals. Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out, but for now it’s over, and it looks like there’s no going back.”
The problems began when the pair went into business together, with Kristina also working as a dance instructor. Kristina admitted that they had “invested everything we’ve ever had” into their company, Soo Yoga, turning her passion for exercise into a business.
However, they ran into serious trouble when the pandemic hit. Their financial struggles were made public last September in court when Kristina was caught driving her £30,000 Audi without insurance.
The ex-couple, who share an eight-year-old daughter, have put their £1.75million Northampton home up for sale and Ben has been removed as a director of their joint yoga business. The five-bedroom home in Northamptonshire has been sold for £1.75 million after being put on the market on September 19, according to the Daily Mail, years after the couple bought it for £950,000.
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