Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff reveal they’ve had no work for 13 MONTHS and no financial support

The UK first went into lockdown on March 23, 2020, in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.

And now, Ben Cohen, 42, and Kristina Rihanoff, 43, have revealed that they’ve received no financial support from the government despite having had no work for 13 months, as they opened up about the toll it’s taken on them.

The couple also discussed their mental health struggles, which were exacerbated by the lack of aid during the pandemic, and insisted they will not be having more kids, after they welcomed daughter Mila four years ago. 

The rugby star and the former Strictly dancer – who started up SooYoga holistic wellbeing business together just before the first lockdown – admitted it’s been an incredibly ‘testing’ time for them. 

Speaking to OK! magazine, Kristina admitted that they rely on doing lots of personal appearances for income, but all of those work opportunities have been taken away.

She said: ‘It’s very overwhelming. We’ve had no personal support from the government,’ while Ben added: ‘My last job was 13 months ago and I’ve had no support, which has taken its toll.

‘Having a new business, not being able to earn, I’ve found that really hard. As someone who’s self-employed I haven’t had any help.’  

Speaking about their four-year-old daughter Mila, Kristina admitted she homeschooled her for 45 minutes per day. 

Ben is also father to 13-year-old twins Harriette and Isabelle from his previous marriage. 

The sportsman and the dancer are adamant that they won’t be having any more children, with Kristina insiting: ‘No! No more children. We have three girls and the dog is a boy. That is it – we don’t need any more.’ 

But the pair – who met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and struck up a connection, despite Ben being married at the time – are certain that they will get married at some point.

Ben revealed: ‘We don’t want to get married in a half-hearted registry office’ but equally that they ‘don’t want a big affair either.’

Kristina agreed that she would like for them to tie the knot when it’s safe to do so, but asserted: ‘For the moment, I feel like our unit is stronger than marriage.’  

The Russian beauty admitted that she would like for Ben to propose in The Maldives and the former rugby player revealed that he’d like all three of his daughters to be there for the special moment.