Motsi in ‘plugging’ row over £58,000 diamonds
STRICTLY judge Motsi Mabuse wore £58,000 worth of diamonds on last week’s show – courtesy of BBC licence fee payers.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the star rented the luxury accessories from jewellers Boodles at a cost of more than £1,000.
And we can also disclose that her stylist, Sinead McKeefry, was reprimanded by BBC bosses for plugging the high-end company on Instagram. Ms McKeefry also dresses Claudia Winkleman and on the same night also tagged a pair of £595 red Christian Louboutin stilettoes the host wore on the show.
Ms Mabuse, 41, is paid £200,000 a series by the BBC, plus a generous clothing budget which covered the rental of the four pieces from Boodles she wore on last Sunday’s results programme. The ensemble included three items in platinum diamond – a £18,300 bangle, £15,600 hoop earrings and a £14,300 ring – plus a £10,000 white gold and diamond bangle. All were returned within days.
Ms Mabuse’s clothing budget is given to her by BBC Studios, the Corporation’s commercial arm that makes Strictly. The BBC then buys the programme with licence money. The Corporation has strict rules preventing stars from plugging products online, regardless of whether they are free, borrowed or hired. While the regulations do not cover those who work for their stars, bosses are understood to have taken a ‘dim view’ of Ms McKeefry’s Instagram posts and insisted that she changed them.
Tory MP Julian Knight, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee said: ‘At a time when the BBC has made the over-75s pay the licence fee, it’s a slap in the face that they are splashing such a huge amount on something so frivolous as costume jewellery. The money spent adds up to a number of licence fees from the public and all for a week of bling. Next time they ask the licence fee payers for more money, maybe we should remind them of this.’
A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘The BBC has clear guidelines in place which we take very seriously. The social media posts referred to have been amended.’
Ms Mabuse, a ballroom champion in Germany and sister of former Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabusi, teamed the elegant jewellery with a simple black dress.
As well as Ms Mabuse and Ms Winkleman, Ms McKeefry styles Amanda Holden and last year’s Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis.
In August, Strictly dancers Janette Manrara, Nadiya Bychkova and Dianne Buswell became embroiled in a similar plugging row after praising Dincwear, who make leggings and leotards, on their social media channels.