Pete Wicks is under investigation by liquidators for a staggering three years after his business, PW Promotions Ltd, plunged into a £120,000 debt, Daily Mail can reveal.
The 38-year-old reality television star, who has made tens of thousands appearing on shows like The Only Way Is Essex, shut down his business in 2023. Now, liquidators from Carter Clark have said they need more time to investigate the company’s finances before they can proceed with the dissolution. They are still awaiting the outcome of a review of accounting information.
Three years ago, when Pete’s business went bust, he signed a legal document known as a Statement of Affairs, claiming his company owed £100,681. However, further investigation has revealed the debt is far higher. HMRC is demanding £59,681 in corporation tax, £24,710 in VAT, and £1,273 in PAYE (Pay As You Earn), while trade and expense creditors are owed £35,704. The total debt now stands at £121,368—well above the £100,681 Pete initially stated.
Although Pete himself has earned a fortune from his TV career, the liquidators have confirmed that the company has no assets and “no recoveries have been made.” This means creditors won’t see a penny of the money owed.
The liquidators’ report says, “The assessment revealed matters that required further clarification. This process is ongoing with assistance from the company’s accountants, and, once concluded, the liquidation will be finalised.”
In addition to PW Promotions Ltd, Pete was also a director of Happy Brands, a clothing company he co-founded with The Only Way Is Essex’s Jake Hall and friend Charles Sharp. However, in November 2022, the company posted heavy accumulated losses of £796,258, and Pete and Jake resigned as directors. By November 2023, the company had gone into liquidation, owing £795,463, and was officially dissolved by March of the following year.
Currently, Pete operates one active company—Unkempt, which he set up in 2021—but its accounts are overdue according to Companies House. Pete has also been involved with other failed ventures, such as Hermano Clothing and Pirate Pete’s Tattoo, both of which opened and closed without doing any business.
While Pete’s business dealings have been turbulent, his personal life has made headlines too. In a twist of fate, Pete and Love Island star Olivia Attwood, who were previously thought to be just friends, were seen kissing in Soho’s Flute Bar last Friday night. The pair’s passionate kiss followed Olivia’s divorce from husband Bradley Dack in January and has since sparked a media frenzy. The public is now speculating that their relationship has turned romantic, despite both of them previously insisting they were just friends.
The news has left Bradley Dack, Olivia’s ex-husband, “livid and embarrassed,” with his hopes for a potential reunion dashed by Olivia’s newfound romance. It’s said that Olivia and Pete began their fling at the end of February, after being seen cozying up on a boat trip in Ibiza last summer.
Hours after their kissing photos emerged, Pete and Olivia were photographed separately arriving to host their KISS FM show The Sunday Roast. Sources close to the couple say they partied for about three and a half hours at the bar that night.
Olivia and Pete have always maintained a close bond through their work on the radio, and now their friendship appears to have blossomed into something more. Their PR teams quickly got to work, pushing news of Bradley’s own new romance as Olivia and Pete’s chemistry captivated the public.
However, in a curious twist, Emily Rose Moloney, one of Bradley’s ex-girlfriends from over a decade ago, has denied reports of a new romance with Bradley. Speaking out on TikTok, she clarified, “This is out of hand now. I’m absolutely not in a relationship with Brad nor have I been for ten whole years.”
The Daily Mail has contacted Bradley’s representatives for comment.
