Television star Ant Middleton, known for his hard-hitting role as the chief instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, has been banned as a company director due to his firm’s failure to settle more than £1 million worth of taxes. Middleton, a former soldier and motivational speaker, along with his wife Emilie Middleton, managed a company called Sway and Starting Limited, which was responsible for handling the earnings from his media appearances. Despite a substantial sum of over £4.5 million being deposited into the company’s accounts between 2020 and 2022, they neglected to pay £300,000 in VAT and over £800,000 in corporation tax within the same period.
The Middletons reportedly withdrew nearly £3 million from the company through a director’s loan account before the firm went into liquidation in December 2022. The couple has agreed to reimburse £300,000 as a final settlement with the liquidator. As a result of these financial discrepancies, Ant and Emilie Middleton, both 44, with registered addresses in Chelmsford, Essex, have been disqualified as company directors for four years. Dave Magrath, from the Insolvency Service, emphasised the essential contribution of tax payments to fund public services such as healthcare and education, highlighting the responsibility directors hold to ensure their companies meet their fiscal obligations.
The Insolvency Service identified that Sway and Starting Limited underpaid £869,351 in corporation tax between September 2019 and March 2021, as well as withholding £384,518 in VAT from a total of £651,961 owed between March 2020 and September 2022. An analysis of the company’s financial records revealed that over £4.5 million was deposited into its accounts from April 2020 to November 2022. By the time the firm was liquidated, the Middletons owed the company at least £2,961,745 through their director’s loan account. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted disqualification undertakings from Ant and Emilie Middleton, commencing on March 24 and 19, respectively.
The disqualification prohibits the Middletons from participating in the establishment, management, or promotion of any company without prior court consent. The obligations and repercussions outlined in the disqualification serve as a cautionary tale for other company directors who evade tax payments whilst diverting funds elsewhere. Middleton, who initially formed Middleton Global Limited in September 2014 before transitioning to Sway and Starting Limited, enlisted his wife as a director in May 2019. Their financial mismanagement raises questions about the accountability of high-profile individuals in handling their fiscal responsibilities properly.
Ant Middleton’s case underscores the importance of transparency and prudence in overseeing business finances, particularly regarding tax compliance and financial obligations. Middleton’s experience as a public figure and motivator now serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of neglecting financial duties. The ramifications of his company’s failure to fulfil tax obligations highlight the critical role that directors play in upholding financial integrity within their organisations. Middleton’s journey from television personality to banned company director underscores the need for diligence and adherence to financial regulations in all business ventures, regardless of individual prominence or reputation.