Jamie Durie's TV company placed into voluntary administration
Jamie Durie first made a name for himself in the 90s as part of international male stripping supergroup Manpower, before swapping that title for a DIY gardener who took over Australian TV screens.
Durie became a beloved household name thanks to his string of appearances on reno shows like Backyard Blitz and The Block.
The beloved television personality went on to win the coveted Logie for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2001, followed by the Logie for Most Popular Presenter for his role in Backyard Blitz from 2003-05.
The bubbly father-of-one also landed a regular stint on the Oprah Winfrey Show, which lasted four years.
Durie, as of 2018, has hosted more than 50 design shows around the world, and written eleven best-selling books.
But, the 48-year-old's company, JPD Media and Design Pty Ltd, has been forced into voluntary administration, with Simon Cathro from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants appointed to look into the company’s grim financial situation.
The news follows a long and bitter legal battle between Durie and his former employee Mike Curnow, who had worked as the company’s global head of licensing.
Mr Curnow first joined the company in 2004 and was let go in 2013
Curnrow launched legal action against Durie regarding alleged unpaid commissions and in March, the Supreme Court ruled Mr Curnow was owed $563,049.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Curnow had still not been paid that initial sum by April, and so his legal team filed a creditor’s statutory demand for the payment, which was due by May 4.
But just one day before that deadline, Durie placed his company into voluntary administration, claiming the former multimillion-dollar business now had just $1 in the bank.
Mr Curnow told the Sydney Morning Herald, 'This has cost me my marriage, my home and my career. If he thinks I’m going to give up now, he’s mistaken. I’m not going anywhere.'
The publication further reports JPD Media and Design also owes other creditors, including the Australian Taxation Office, with Fairfax media alleging the company owed the ATO more than $215,000 in unpaid taxes for the 2016/2017 financial year.
Durie is yet to formally respond to news of his voluntary administration.
