The former SAS: Who dares wins star is barred from running a company after failing to pay £1m in taxes

Ant Middleton has been banned from serving as a company director for four years after his media firm Sway and Starting Limited failed to pay over £1 million in taxes. The former SAS: Who Dares Wins star and his wife, Emilie Middleton, who co-directed the company, now face financial turmoil, having already sold their £1.16 million Essex home.

The company, set up to manage Middleton’s earnings from television and media projects, went into liquidation in December 2022. Government investigators revealed that between 2019 and 2022, Middleton’s firm failed to pay £300,000 in VAT and over £800,000 in corporation tax, despite receiving more than £4.5 million in income over two years.

Officials stated that Middleton and his wife withdrew nearly £3 million from the business through a director’s loan account, directing large sums toward personal finances instead of settling tax obligations. Following negotiations, Middleton later agreed to repay £300,000 as a final settlement with the liquidator.

The Insolvency Service issued a scathing statement on the couple’s financial mismanagement. Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services, warned:

“Companies not paying their taxes deprive the government of funds needed for defence, the NHS, education, and public transport. Ant and Emilie Middleton had financial duties to ensure their company paid its taxes. Instead, they withdrew millions for themselves. This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors.”

Middleton’s troubles have been mounting since Channel 4 axed him from SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2021, citing concerns over his “personal conduct”. After the controversy, he relocated to Dubai in search of a fresh start, but the financial strain has now followed him overseas.

The couple’s ban from directing companies will last until 2029, marking a significant fall from grace for the former SAS soldier-turned-TV-star