BBC star ‘on the verge of bankruptcy’ as show axed and company goes bust

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Former Strictly Come Dancing star Ugo Monye faced a tax bill of almost £200,000 and could be forced to declare bankruptcy.

As a result of the unpaid bill and reported National Insurance payments, the A Question of Sport captain was made to liquidate his wellness company as the business went bust.

This followed a winding-up order issued by the courts in December 2023, for the “physical wellbeing” business Show Me The Monye Limited.

Now, HMRC has also filed a bankruptcy petition against the former England rugby player.

According to reports, the company’s accounts for the year ended June 30, 2022, showed it owed £108,562 in corporation tax and £72,967 in other tax and National Insurance.

The application, lodged with the High Court on December 4, calls for the authority to be able to seize Ugo’s assets in order to pay off his debts, reports The Telegraph.

Ugo is the latest former England star to face bankruptcy after World Cup winner Phil Vickery filed for bankruptcy in February 2023.

It marks the latest blow in Ugo’s career after A Question of Sport was cancelled at the end of 2023.

The quiz show, which first aired in 1968, had a previous line-up of host Sue Barker and captains ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell and ex-rugby player Matt Dawson.

However, in 2021, it underwent a controversial overhaul, with bosses appointing Ugo and hockey player Sam Quek as captains and former Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness stepping in as Sue’s replacement following her departure after 24 years as host.

The programme’s format also underwent a full-scale makeover which sparked mixed reactions from viewers as the popular challenges were ditched.

Ratings quickly dropped from 4 million to around 800,000 viewers, with bosses officially axing the show in December.

Despite this, Ugo still works for the BBC on its Rugby Union Weekly podcast and is a popular pundit for TNT Sports.

In 2021, he starred on Strictly alongside Oti Mabuse but finished in 11th place.

During his time on the field, Ugo spent his 13-year career with Harlequins, helping them to their first Premiership title in 2012.

He also won 14 caps for England and two for the Lions, finishing top try-scorer on the latter’s 2009 tour to South Africa before retiring aged 31 in 2015.

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