MAURA Higgins will bank a mega £280k pay cheque if she makes the final stages of Dancing With The Stars – and will get £93k even if she’s kicked out in the first two weeks.
It is an astronomical sum compared to the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, which reportedly includes a £25k initial fee.
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Maura has hit the big time in America and her profile will soar as she joins the dance contest, where she has been paired with pro dancer Mark Ballas – who is Shirley’s son.
A source said: “Dancing With The Stars pays tremendously well but the boost to a celebrity’s profile goes beyond even the pay cheque from the network.
“Maura is already known in the US thanks to her role on The Traitors US but this will take her into every sitting room in the States.
“Her earning power will now be off the charts.”
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DWTS employs a special, sliding contract where salaries increase each fortnight.
They start with $125k (£93k), then celebs who make it to weeks three and four get an additional $10k (£7k) per week.
In week five it’s an extra $15k (£11k), whilst six and seven bring an added $20k (£15k).
Those who last until weeks eight and nine receive an extra $30k (£22k) per week.
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Making the semi-finals and the final reportedly adds an additional $50k (£37k), although Variety reported that since 2020 the total is capped at $295k (£280k).
Disney+ has signed Maura up to host their reboot of Blind Date, which first aired in 1985 and was a staple of Saturday night TV for nearly 20 years, with Cilla Black as host.
The streamer borrowed the original’s catchphrase to announce the signing on Instagram and said: “Blind Date host, what’s your name and where d’ya come from?’ It’s… Maura Higgins.”
The show, which will launch next year, will follow the familiar format of love-seeking contestants choosing between three potential suitors who are hidden behind a wall.
Angela Jain, head of content at Disney+ EMEA, said Higgins’ name was a “shortcut” for a tone that is “cheeky, fun, witty, and warm”.
She added at Edinburgh TV Festival: “She is a head turner – literally.”