COMEDY star Dawn French has written off £300,000 from her designer clothes label for plus size women.
The 62-year-old set up clothing firm Sixteen47 Limited with business partner Helen Teague in 1991.
They initially claimed to have experienced ten times the growth they expected after larger women like Sophie Dahl were finally embraced by the fashion industry.
The company, which was given its name because 47 per cent of women are size 16 or over, opened a string of shops across the UK.
But in 2004 – having seen debts increase to £500,000 – the pair decided to slim down their retail shops in favour of an online business after realising larger ladies were more likely to shop online because they felt self-conscious going shopping.
And despite the clothing industry for larger women being worth an estimated £3.8billion, the pair have now pulled the plug on the online side of the business as well.
Latest official documents reveal French and Teague were forced to write off “long-term liabilities totalling £298,661, due to the cessation of the business”.
On a lighter note, Dawn, who starred in BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, recently teased she had reunited with on-screen partner Jennifer Saunders on a new top secret project.
And last year Dawn admitted she was "finally happy” after losing 8 stone and “accepting that she's getting older”.
Dawn was married to fellow comedian Lenny Henry for 25 years but they split in 2010.
She married Mark Bignell seven years ago.
Dawn’s agent was contacted for comment.
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