Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff have been dealt another setback as their £1.75 million house sale has reportedly fallen through, just months after confirming their separation and ongoing financial troubles.
The former couple met during the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing while Ben was still married.
Despite their breakup, they are still living together in the five-bedroom Northamptonshire home with their nine-year-old daughter, Mila.
The home was originally purchased in 2016 for £950,000. It was put on the market last September as the pair began to grapple publicly with growing debt and the breakdown of their relationship.
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff struggle to sell house
In a fresh blow, the property is now back on the market after a potential sale collapsed. Oscar James Estate Agency has resumed viewings.
“There is only so much one couple can take,” a close friend told The Sun. “The financial problems Kristina and Ben were facing pushed them to the brink. It has been incredibly stressful for them. This was what properly broke them and ended the relationship.”
Their financial woes are linked to a series of business ventures they launched together – primarily their wellness and fitness company, Soo Yoga Group, which Kristina once said they had “invested everything we’ve ever had” into.
But court documents and company filings have revealed the full extent of the pair’s money problems.
These documents show that the couple carries a whopping £1 million debt. The highest debt comes from Soo Yoga Group, for the amount of £488,470.
ED! has contacted reps for comment.
‘I’m so overdrawn’
Speaking emotionally in court during Kristina’s driving offence hearing – where she was spared a ban due to “exceptional hardship” – Ben opened up about the toll of their situation.
“I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything – to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn,” he said.
While their personal and financial situation has drawn public attention, so has their relationship.
The couple’s romance began under scrutiny after Ben split from wife Abby, with whom he shares 15-year-old twin daughters.
Following the news of the breakup and financial trouble, Abby issued a pointed statement: “What goes around comes around.”
Abby is now in a relationship with businessman David Warner. She has maintained a relatively low profile despite the media spotlight on her ex-husband’s personal struggles.
A friend close to the couple reflected on the pressure they faced from the start.
“Their union hasn’t always been a bed of roses because of how they got together. With the amount of public jibes sent in their direction, their friends have commented that they think it’s amazing their relationship lasted for as long as it did.”
Read more: Ben Cohen’s ex Abby claims star didn’t offer to help ‘at all’ as she battled colon cancer
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