BBC presenter Kevin Duala has opened up about his experience of falling into a £20,000 debt spiral, which left him feeling ashamed and unable to access cash when a cashpoint swallowed his card. The actor and presenter, known for appearances on The One Show, shared his story on Morning Live, revealing how a combination of circumstances led to a hidden debt cycle.
Duala explained that as a self-employed person, he had followed expert advice to set aside money for tax, mortgage, bills and cashflow. However, when work dried up, he began borrowing to pay his mortgage, then to cover his tax bill, and eventually to repay previous loans. He described the situation as a 'vicious circle' of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which he tried to ignore but only worsened.
The debt began to affect his personal life, relationships and work. Duala recalled going for an audition and thinking that if he got the job, he could hide the debt. He did not get the role, and later hit a low point when a cashpoint refused his card, leaving him with no access to money. He broke down crying, not out of self-pity but frustration at his predicament.
At that moment, Duala contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau, which put him in touch with a debt charity. With their help, he created a new budget, contacted HMRC, his bank and bill companies, and began chipping away at his arrears. It took him six years to pay off all his debts.
Duala shared key steps for tackling debt: know what you owe by reviewing bank statements and getting a free credit report; make a budget listing income and outgoings, prioritising essential bills; and consider saving a small amount to build a saving mindset. He emphasised that the relief from taking the first step far outweighs the stress of living with debt.
Several charities offer free debt advice, including StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice, MoneyWellness and the Debt Advice Foundation.
