BBC Strictly star & rugby ace is SAVED from bankruptcy because HMRC ‘couldn’t find his address’
A BBC Strictly star and rugby ace has escaped bankruptcy after HMRC "couldn't find his address."
The penniless former England and British and Irish Lions wing had a bankruptcy petition filed against him after appearing on Strictly in 2021.
Ugo Monye, 41, should have been handed his bankruptcy papers but it came to light at High Court on Tuesday that this didn't happen because his house couldn't be found.
HM Revenue & Customs legal representatives attempted to serve the papers but told Judge Sally Barber, deputy bankruptcy registrar of the High Court they were not able to.
In a baffling turn of events, the excuse that Monye's address was unknown was permissible, and the petition was allowed to be withdrawn.
Judge Barber said: “You’ve been unable to serve it because you don’t have knowledge of a place of residence where he currently lives.
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"Permission to withdraw the bankruptcy petition granted.”
Monye regularly appears on television and radio, participating in Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live and TNT Sports.
But despite his high-profile, HMRC was not able to locate Monye's whereabouts.
The government agency refused to explain why it was be unable to find the celebrity or on whether it intended to submit a new petition.
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A source told The Times that a petition may have been sent to an outdated address.
In a statement, Monye said: “I have been fully engaged with my financial advisers who in turn have been liaising directly with HMRC on this matter on my behalf.
"I am hopeful that the matter will be fully concluded imminently.”
News about his money troubles first came out in January - a year after HMRC got permission to shut down Monye’s company, Show Me The Monye.
On Companies House, the business has been marked as liquidated with accounts overdue and a confirmation statement overdue.
The health and fitness company reportedly didn’t pay nearly £200,000 in taxes and social security and was closed in 2022.
HMRC filed to shut down the company on 1 August 2023, and the order was granted on 6 December.
Now, after failing to locate the elusive star, permission to withdraw the bankruptcy has been granted.
It comes after a tricky couple of years for the former international and British & Irish Lions player, with A Question of Sport being axed at the end of 2023.
The BBC show had run since 1968 and had been a hit with its previous line-up - host Sue Barker and captains, ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell and ex-rugby player Matt Dawson.
But it underwent a controversial rebrand in 2021 - with bosses bringing in Ugo and hockey player Sam Quek as captains and former Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness stepping in as Sue's replacement.
The format also saw a full-scale overhaul, with popular challenges ditched.
Ratings quickly tanked from 4 million to around 800,000 viewers, with execs finally calling time on the show in December 2023.
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However, Ugo does still work for the Beeb on its Rugby Union Weekly podcast - and is a pundit for TNT Sports.
He also appeared on the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional partner Oti Mabuse - finishing in 11th place.