Penalties for 3 years overdue

I have been contacted by a limited company with three years of accounts, CT returns and annual returns overdue. As far as I can tell the company has never submitted anything and there is now an application to strike it off. The company was only used for a short time but at this point I don't know whether it was properly dormant or not and from what date.

The accrued penalties are horrendous and I wondered whether you bright sparks out there could suggest any ways to reduce them (other than getting everything submitted asap).

Until I have the first meeting I don't know the state of the records and whether I will accept the job but that is another matter.