Comedian Jason Manford has been compelled to pay £1.1 million to settle a substantial tax bill. The payment, which followed a costly divorce, necessitated the sale of portions of his property holdings. The bill was for unpaid PAYE (Pay As You Earn) and National Insurance contributions for his holding company, Invisible Man Ltd, which entered voluntary liquidation in 2017.

Documents filed with Companies House indicate that Manford had to divest properties from his 10-home portfolio to address both the tax liability and the financial demands stemming from his divorce settlement with his first wife, Catherine. He reportedly generated over £3 million from these sales to facilitate the settlement of the tax owed from his 2017 marital separation.

Manford had amassed a property portfolio in the Greater Manchester area, acquiring homes for rental income. Alongside his comedy career, the 45-year-old father of six has also been a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and recently starred in the UK premiere of the musical "Something Rotten" in Manchester. His holding company's principal activity was identified as managing this investment property portfolio.

In recent months, Manford has also publicly discussed his significant weight loss, shedding approximately three stone over 18 months. He attributed this to taking up padel tennis and engaging in a fitness group with other parents. His doctor had reportedly warned him about knee issues if he did not lose weight, citing persistent soreness. Manford sought professional help, including personal training and nutritional guidance, but also emphasized the support from his personal network, including a WhatsApp group with his brother and friends.

Fans have noted Manford's more recent slimmer appearance, with many complimenting his look. He has spoken about his lifelong preoccupation with his weight, influenced by factors such as ill-fitting clothes and breathlessness during activities with his children. He has stated that a combination of reduced food intake and increased physical activity led to his weight loss, a journey supported by his family and a Facebook group he established in 2017. Manford also noted that he previously used his weight as a comedic tool, creating jokes about his size as a defense mechanism against hecklers and believing that comedians who had experienced struggle were often funnier.

A representative for Jason Manford has been contacted for comment on the tax bill matter.