Comedian Jason Manford is boasting a extra padded pockets, after doubling his fortune to more than £2 million in the space of a year.
The TV personality, 39, is said to have sold off the large majority of his 10-property empire last year in a bid to settle legal bills from his divorce from first wife Catherine, which was finalised in 2017, according to The Sun.
Father-of-six Jason, who has been married to Lucy Dyke since 2017, raised over £3 million in his property sale, but still earned enough profit for his company Gerald Dean Limited to have £2.1 million in assets.
Raking in the dough: Comedian Jason Manford is boasting a extra padded pockets, after doubling his fortune to more than £2 million in the space of a year. Pictured in November
His current fortune stands head and shoulders above the £1.1 million in assets he boasted at the end of the previous tax year.
Jason made the most of his early success by snapping up a slew of properties across Greater Manchester, nine of which he rented out.
The Sun reported in May that Jason was selling up to pay off the costs of his divorce from first wife Catherine, thus dissolving his holding company Invisible Man Limited.
A report filed to Companies House revealed: ‘The principal activity of the Company was that of a holding Company which held a portfolio of investment properties.
Savvy investor: Father-of-six Jason raised over £3 million from selling off the large majority of his 10-property empire last year
‘The Company has reached the end of its useful life and it was appropriate to wind the Company up in the form of a Voluntary Liquidation.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Jason Manford for comment.
Meanwhile, Jason started the year on a celebratory note, after it was revealed that he has signed up to host new BBC quiz show Unbeatable.
The TV star announced he will front the upcoming daytime show, in which four contestants will compete to find the best answer to a series of questions.
He said in a statement: ‘I know how important daytime quizzes are for a lot of people. I used to sit with my Nana Manford and mum watching them.
Settlement: He sold off his properties in a bid to settle legal bills from his divorce from first wife Catherine, which was finalised in 2017, according to The Sun
‘They keep the brain going, they’re a chuckle and I’m really looking forward to being a part of this exciting new one.
‘The great thing about Unbeatable is you don’t even need to know the actual answer to appear clever. I feel like this is the quiz show I’ve been waiting for my whole life.’
Unbeatable, which is set to debut on BBC One later this year, will be Jason’s second go at hosting a quiz show following last year’s First & Last.
News of Jason’s new gig comes after he revealed he’s been volunteering to drive locals to a COVID-19 vaccine centre so they can get the jab.
The comedian reassured fans he wasn’t actually giving out the jab after he shared a snap outside his local vaccination centre in Stockport.
In the money: Jason, who has been married to Lucy Dyke since 2017, still earned enough profit for his company Gerald Dean Limited to have £2.1 million in assets. Pictured in 2018
It comes after Jason took on a job as a delivery driver for Iceland during the first COVID-19 lockdown last year, with his wages being donated to The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.
Jason shared a snap from his car which was parked outside the vaccination centre proving he was still doing his bit for the nationwide effort.
The star didn’t hold back in taking a swipe at anti-vaxxers, who among other theories have claimed the vaccine was being used to ‘chip’ people for monitoring.
He wrote: ‘Busy day at the vaccination centre today here in Heald Green. Have already take 3 people & have got another 3 to do!
‘Same again tomorrow & Friday I do wonder why Bill Gates wants to chip poor old Doris from Offerton, but ours is not to reason why I suppose.’
Kind: Earlier this year, Jason revealed he had been volunteering to drive locals to a COVID-19 vaccine centre so they can get the jab
In the comments Jason then clarified he’d been driving locals to get their vaccines, after one asked: ‘Are you bringing people to get vaccinated?’ as he responded with ‘Aye.’
Another asked: ‘Are you jabbing people?’ with the comic replying: ‘ha nope! Just driving them here.’
Jason was praised in June when he took on the role of an Iceland delivery driver for the day, with the supermarket donating his wages to his chosen charity.
The comic had previously revealed his application to work for rival Tesco had been rejected, after offering his time to join the ‘wartime’ effort during the pandemic.
He joked he was ‘livid’ that Tesco had declined his application and admitted that he was ‘only trying to do his bit’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Iceland replied to his tweet offering him work for a day and promising to make a donation to the NHS in his name.
In response to Tesco’s rejection, Jason had posted: ‘Absolutely livid Tesco. I was only trying to do my bit.
He went on to joke that he’ll be keeping an eye on the new employee, and said: ‘I hope the better person got and enjoys the job, I’ll be watching.’
But Iceland stepped in, saying: ‘Our door is always open for you. Help us out for the day and we’ll make a donation to the NHS in your name.’
Frontline: It comes after Jason earned praise from fans after he took on a job as a delivery driver for Iceland during the first lockdown with his wages being donated to charity