Chris Hughes might be one of Love Island’s most famous alumni, but that doesn’t mean things have been plain sailing since he left the villa in 2017.
I can reveal the ex partner of Olivia Attwood landed himself in hot water with the taxman after his company had racked up more than £400,000 in debts, most of it owed to HMRC.
The former Love Island star, then 33, had set up Chris Hughes Associates Ltd after rising to fame on the show’s third series back in 2017. While his TV career had taken off, landing presenting gigs and brand deals, the finances behind the scenes had been heading in a very different direction.
According to the latest available accounts, covering the year ending July 31, 2024, the company owed a total of £423,243 to creditors. The overwhelming majority, £409,057, had been listed under ‘taxation and social security costs’, with just under £20,000 tied up in bank loans and overdrafts.
That level of debt hadn’t gone unnoticed. His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs had escalated matters, petitioning the High Court in August 2024 to have the company forcibly wound up.
That action was dismissed in April 2025, but the problem hadn’t gone away.
Just a month later, Hughes attempted to shut the company down himself. However, the move was blocked by a creditor, widely assumed to be HMRC, meaning the firm’s closure is suspended for now.
It wasn’t the only legal headache either. The company was also in breach of Companies House rules after failing to file a required confirmation statement, which had been due on 22 July 2025. That might have sounded like admin, but it was technically a criminal offence not to comply.
All of this painted a messy financial picture behind the scenes, despite Hughes’ continued presence in the public eye.
Chris Hughes rose to fame back in 2017 when he appeared on the third series of Love Island alongside Olivia Attwood (pictured), then he went on to set up Chris Hughes Associates Ltd
Hughes is now in a relationship with American singer, dancer and media personality JoJo Siwa
Personally, he was reportedly worth around £1.4million thanks to years of TV work, endorsements and media appearances. And in a move that raised eyebrows, he had recently revealed he even offered to work for free after being dropped from one of his biggest presenting roles.
Hughes had been part of ITV’s horse racing coverage since 2019, a job he had previously described as his ‘dream’. But the previous year, he had been quietly cut from the lineup.
Rumours had initially suggested a pay dispute, but Hughes took to X to shut that down.
‘Just FYI, press reports were not true around this. I never once asked for more money,’ he wrote. ‘I was simply told they were cost cutting across sport… and I was one of them that was removed.’
He added: ‘I even offered to work for free at one of the festivals.’
It was a striking admission, particularly given the financial issues that were then surrounding his company.
And then there was his personal life, which added another layer to the story.
Hughes had started dating JoJo Siwa, a global star with a reported net worth of around £18million. Known for her successful music career, merchandise empire and massive young fanbase, Siwa’s financial position couldn’t have been more different.
The contrast was hard to ignore: while Hughes was dealing with mounting tax issues and a stalled company closure, his partner was one of the most commercially successful young entertainers in the world.
For now, the future of Chris Hughes Associates Ltd remains uncertain.
Whether Hughes could clean up the financial fallout, or whether it would drag on further, was still very much up in the air.
A representative for Chris said: ‘This relates to a historic company matter that has been fully resolved, with all obligations settled.’
Reality stars promote luxury healthcare
Livvy Barker has recently posted about flying to to Istanbul for a luxury hospital trip
Made in Chelsea star Livvy Barker is flying close to the sun – literally and figuratively – when it comes to her TikTok content. This month, she posted a video showing she and castmate Zeyno Taylan jetting to Istanbul for a ‘full body check’ at a luxury-looking hospital. ‘It felt more like a hotel,’ she wrote in the caption, declaring the £900 price tag ‘worth it’ for the detail of the results and peace of mind. It was an unusually gushing post from Livvy… so was it a paid promotion?
The giveaway was a clip from the hospital’s own podcast, featuring both Livvy and Zeyno, tagged and name-checked as MIC stars. ‘Our two Made in Chelsea stars had their check up today,’ the host says.
Influencers are required by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to clearly disclose paid partnerships or gifted services – usually with the word ‘ad’ included somewhere in the caption, which Livvy did not do.
All of which leaves her followers unable to trust whether her recommendations are genuine.
Ex-Islander cashes in on his catchphrase
Tyrique Hyde appeared on season ten of Love Island UK, which he finished in third place
Love Island star Tyrique Hyde has had a lot of heat on him recently – after going public with ex-Islander Samie Elishi, who split from her partner in the villa, Ciaran Davies just three weeks after winning the latest series of Love Island All Stars.
But I can reveal Tyrique is making business moves off-screen, quietly setting up his own company built around his personal brand.
Companies House filings show Tyrique is the director and majority owner of LATAA LTD, a business focused on public relations and media representation services. The name isn’t random. If you’ve watched him, you’ll know ‘Lataa’ [‘later’], is his catchphrase. He even has it tattooed across his chest.
And he’s already expanding, with a second venture, Lataa Gang Limited, launched in 2026. It’s a classic post–Love Island pivot: build a brand and monetise the personality.
UP
Joe Baggs has recently appeared alongside Graham Norton on The Neighbourhood
TikTok star Joe Baggs is having a moment, and honestly, it’s deserved. From hosting a Q&A with Graham Norton for the veteran presenter’s new reality series The Neighbourhood, to lining up a series of illustrious guests on his podcast Not My Bagg, he’s quickly becoming one of ITV’s most bankable young faces. Rising from Gogglebox fame, the Baggs family continue to prove they’re more than just armchair critics. Joe’s charm feels natural, not forced, and audiences and brands, are clearly buying in.
DOWN
Alex Cooper isn’t having a great week. Her new four-part YouTube series, Unwell Winter Games – which sees a cast of celebrities facing a series of mental and physical challenges – is already facing backlash. Among the stars featured on the show is Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul – the subject of an ongoing domestic violence investigation after a leaked video showed her throwing furniture at her ex, Dakota Mortensen – who is also starring in the new series.
Molly-Mae Hague is stepping deeper into her fashion era with a new collaboration with Adidas – and all signs point to an instant sell-out. Launching on April 9, there are two designs on offer: one inspired by a matcha iced drink, the other by coffee. It’s a safe bet, and a clear nod to her core audience.
Still, for a reported seven-figure deal, the concept feels a little… expected. Clean, commercial, but not exactly groundbreaking.
And there’s an irony I haven’t missed: in a vlog last year, Molly-Mae openly admitted she ‘despises’ matcha ‘in every form’. Now it’s front and centre of her design story.
Smart marketing? Absolutely. Authentic? Not so much.
For as long as I can remember, Sun Protection Factor 50 has been the gold standard for preventing sun damage and premature ageing. But Environ is challenging that thinking. I spoke to founder and plastic surgeon Des Fernandes last week, who argued that higher SPF often means more chemical filters.
His advice? Opt for SPF 20 and reapply consistently throughout the day.
‘Putting that many chemicals on your skin, it’s getting absorbed. And we don’t know the long-term risks,’ he told me.
It’s a perspective that echoes past controversy, like when Sam Faiers was criticised for calling sunscreen ‘toxic’. At the time, it felt extreme. Now, having heard the expert view, I’m reconsidering.
I’m not ditching SPF, but I am switching approach. Regular reapplication, lighter formulas, and yes, Environ’s SPF 20 has earned a spot in my daily routine.
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