A STRICTLY star and rugby ace who once played for England is on the brink of bankruptcy – after his company went bust and his show was axed.
BBC host Ugo Monye, an ex-rugby union player and A Question of Sport captain, was forced to liquidate his wellness company due to an unpaid tax bill of almost £200,000.
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Ugo Monye has been hit with a bankruptcy petitionCredit: Getty
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Ugo appeared alongside Oti Mabuse on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021Credit: PA
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He spent most of his career at HarlequinsCredit: Getty
It follows a winding-up order for Show Me The Monye Limited, which had been issued by the courts in December 2023.
Now, HMRC has also filed a bankruptcy petition against the 41-year-old.
Lodged with the High Court on December 4, the application calls for the authority to be able to seize Ugo’s assets in order to pay off his debts.
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.
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 in 2021 alongside professional partner Oti Mabuse – finishing in 11th place.
My dad’s carers hid his cancer from me & I didn’t find out until after he died – I danced on Strictly hours after watching his funeral on a live-stream
He stepped out on the dance-floor just weeks after losing his dad – and splitting from his wife of five years.
Ugo told The Sun how his dad Theo had been delighted by his appearance on the dance show before his death from prostate cancer.
In the same interview, Ugo revealed how he and ex Lucy, who share two daughters, were still on good terms.
He said: “We weren’t in a volatile relationship, we never hated each other and there was no third party. Forget the Strictly curse — it’s the Covid curse! We ended up where we ended up.
“It’s been a difficult, multi-faceted situation but there is no animosity. We’ve got two incredible young girls who we love so much.
“So our focus is very much on the kids, protecting and fostering this amazing family unit.”
Ugo spent most of his career at Harlequins, before retiring from the sport in 2015 aged 31.
The Sun has reached out to Ugo for comment.
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Ugo and Oti appeared on the 19th series of Strictly Come DancingCredit: PA
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Ugo and Oti came 11thCredit: BBC
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Ugo at the Pride of Britain awards in 2021Credit: The Mega Agency
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Publish date : 2025-01-14 17:38:50
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