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HUNK TO ACOSTA PACKET
Strictly bosses keen to sign ballet star Carlos Acosta to replace Darcey Bussell and he could bag £400,000 pay cheque
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CUBAN dancer Carlos Acosta is being targeted to leap into Darcey Bussell’s vacant Strictly seat.
BBC bosses are keen to replace one ballet star with another, The Sun can reveal.
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But feather-footed Carlos, who has danced with Darcey before, is said to be after a stomping fee.
The globally sought-after choreographer has already agreed to be Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new artistic director from next year.
If Strictly bosses bag him too, they may have to pay a rumoured £400,000 — which is around £150,000 more than the other judges get.
A Strictly insider said: “Carlos is a huge name in the dance world and has been on Strictly’s radar for a long time.
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Darcey Bussell quits Strictly Come Dancing after seven years as a judge
“Shirley Ballas popularity as head judge proves that audiences love genuine experts, even if they’re not a household name yet.
“Carlos is a vibrant character, full of energy, with vast experience in his field. He ticks all the boxes and has the backing of influential producers. If Strictly can strike a deal, it would be an exciting prospect.”
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Carlos, 45, who is based in the UK, is married to former model Charlotte Holland, 37. The couple have three kids, including twin daughters aged two.
After joining the Royal Ballet in 1998, Carlos starred in productions including Swan Lake and the Nutcracker, before leaving in 2015.
He was awarded a CBE for his services to ballet in 2014.
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Bookies’ favourite to take over from Darcey, 49, is former Strictly dancer Karen Hardy, 48.
Current pro Anton De Beke, 52, and former winner Caroline Flack, 39, are also tipped.
Darcey quit after seven years over frustrations with the show’s curse, judges’ spats and a rejected pay-rise.
A Strictly spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation.”
Oti: Panel's not for me
STRICTLY’S Oti Mabuse has ruled herself out of replacing Darcey as judge.
The South African pro dancer, 28, had been bookies’ second favourite.
But she told Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show: “There are no dancers like Strictly dancers and how close we are.
“And I would absolutely miss that. I’ll be dancing, honey, I’ll be dancing.”
Kirstina Rhianoff defends Stacey Dooley's Strictly romance with Kevin Clifton saying someone's 'bound to get hurt' as couples get together 'at work'
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