BBC Breakfast's Charlie Stayt avoids bankruptcy by striking a last-minute deal to settle tax debt

BBC Breakfast presenter Charlie Stayt and his wife narrowly avoided bankruptcy today by reaching a last-minute agreement to settle a substantial tax debt.

Charlie, aged 62, and his wife Anne, aged 58, who is also a broadcaster, were facing a £191,000 tax bill and had received a bankruptcy petition last month.

However, the High Court at London's Rolls Building was informed that they had already repaid £159,000, and today a deal was finalized for them to clear the remaining £32,000.

They were not present at the brief hearing, during which Judge Sebastian Prentis approved the removal of the bankruptcy petition.

Anam Rezvi, for HMRC, said: “We would seek to withdraw the petition as the balance has now been reduced and the remaining balance has agreed to be paid by the debtors.”

Stayt Limited, the TV and broadcasting company owned by the Stayts, reported a deficit of £6,409 in their accounts filed in December, covering until the end of March 2023.

The couple, who have two children, purchased their four-bedroom residence in Twickenham, South West London, for £800,000 in 2002. The property's current value is estimated to be as high as £2.3 million.

Charlie Stayt, educated at a public school, started his career in radio before transitioning to television, where he initially worked for ITV.

He gained prominence for anchoring Five News's coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and later worked with Sky News.

Joining BBC Breakfast in 2006, Charlie Stayt has been involved in numerous memorable moments alongside his co-host Naga Munchetty, aged 49.