Cheryl Baker: Financial struggles of pandemic have left me penniless
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.
"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."
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