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Cheryl Baker: Financial struggles of pandemic have left me penniless

Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
Updated ·2-min read
Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz performing at South Tyneside Festival in Bents Park, South Shields. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)
Cheryl Baker has said she is broke. (Getty Images)

Cheryl Baker has said the financial struggles of the coronavirus pandemic have left her completely “broke”.

The Bucks Fizz singer and TV presenter admitted she owes a large amount of money in tax but does not have enough money to cover it so has had to appeal to put her payment on hold.

Baker, 66, told OK! magazine: "We had one virtual gig and that was our only income. It's been ridiculously hard. I owe lots of tax... I physically haven't got the money to pay anybody because I'm broke."

Read more: Bucks Fizz singer Jay Aston making 'slow' recovery from COVID-19

The Making Your Mind Up singer explained: "It's been bittersweet for me. It means that I haven't worked for a year. We had one virtual gig and that was our only income. It's been ridiculously hard.

(From left to right) Former Bucks Fizz members Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston arrive at the Trade Mark Registry in London, to hear judgement on a long-running dispute over the rights to the group's name.
Cheryl Baker with Bucks Fizz bandmates Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. (PA)

"I owe lots of tax and VAT because I had a great year three years ago.

"But because I had that great year, I now can't claim anything from the government. So, I've had to ring the VAT and tax people and say, 'You're going to have to put it on hold.’

“That's the only thing I can do right now... But, I am well and that is far more important."

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Cheryl Baker during the Dancing on Ice Live Tour - Dress Rehearsal at Wembley Arena on March 22, 2018 in London, England.The tour kicks off March 23, 2018 at the SSE Wembley Arena, travelling around the UK until the end of April. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images )
Cheryl Baker rehearsing for the Dancing on Ice live tour in 2018. (Getty Images )

Baker - who presented children’s BBC show Record Breakers in the 1980s - competed in Dancing On Ice in 2018. She has also continued to perform live with Bucks Fizz.

Read more: Cheryl Baker rejected Celebrity Big Brother for fear of showing her ‘horrible side’

Meanwhile, Bucks Fizz bandmate Jay Aston recently revealed she is slowly recovering after battling COVID-19.

The 59-year-old, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with Bucks Fizz in 1981, has previously battled mouth cancer and had a seven-hour operation to remove her lymph nodes as well as a section of her tongue.

Aston wrote on Facebook: “Re my latest health scare with Covid … progress is slow but in the right direction!

“Still coughing but having asthma doesn’t help … anyway I’m going to post some more during my recovery. What an amazing time we had!”

Watch: Cheryl Baker took part in Dancing On Ice in 2018