Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne has denied claims that he has been hypocritical about his holiday choices.
The 60-year-old businessman recently filmed scenes for the The Great British Holiday Show, in which he encouraged people to holiday in Britain, he has since flew out to spend summer in his villa in France.
During filming Duncan commented: “People should be holidaying here instead of going abroad.”
Dragons’ Den panellist Theo Paphitis has joined the board of Marvel Entertainment.
Having previously revived retail brands including Ryman the Stationer and the Contessa and La Senza lingerie chains, Paphitis will be overseeing the development of Marvel’s interests in Europe from September.
“I’ve always said that business should be fun and joining the advisory board of Marvel is certainly that,” said Paphitis. “Having loved Marvel’s comics, films and merchandise, I now find myself sharing them with my children and grandchildren.
Launching a new musical is a notoriously risky venture; will Kent-based theatre director and former Pebble Mill presenter Josephine Buchan hit the right note in her quest for cash? East London brothers Oliver and Toby Richmond hope there will be no stalling when they ask the Dragons to invest in their car servicing company. A former GCSE project takes centre stage when Welsh student Emily Webb asks for 75,000 pounds to take her invention to market, and Rugby duo Frank Drewett and Lawrence Webb hope a Dragon’s backing will help lift the lid on the potential of their wheelie bin accessory.
TV’s dragon slayer Levi Roots brings carnival to the kitchen with his hot’n’spicy debut cookbook. After winning over the business minds of The Dragon’s Den with little more than a song and a smile, entrepreneur Levi Roots has since sold more than one million bottles of his delicious Reggae Reggae Sauce. Building on this success and his ever-growing popularity as a food hero, Levi Roots now has his very own cookbook!
Dragons’ Den has got to be one of the best reality TV shows around and the fact that some people actually launch a decent career off the back of it (think Levi Roots of Reggae Reggae sauce and Imran Hakim of the iTeddy) makes it doubly enjoyable for me.
The panel of Theo Paphitis, James Caan, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne returns, offering entrepreneurs hope of cash investments in the difficult economic climate. Business pitches include personalised romantic novels, a scary attraction, eco-friendly patio heaters and a device to end nuisance phone calls.
This has to be the best reality TV show since The Apprentice!
It seems that Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne is about to put his not inconsiderable knowledge of revamping businesses to the test for a new TV show.
The Virgin Media show, ‘Save Our Seaside’ does exactly what it says on the tin and Duncan will play an integral role in rescuing some of the UK’s most downtrodden seaside resorts.
A spokesman for Virgin1 told the Press Association today, “We are really excited to be working with Duncan Bannatyne on what we hope will be a series which will capture the imaginations of the British people and encourage a regeneration of our seaside attractions – which are a huge part of our heritage” said a spokesperson for Virgin1.
An expert in the Leisure industry, Duncan will visit various seaside resorts around the UK including Barry Island in the Vale of Glamorgan and ‘Westcliff Leisure Park’ in Kent. In both resorts he’ll apparently “work on the attractions” and see how flagging tourist numbers can be boosted. Read more & comment »
Dragons’ Den judge Duncan Bannatyne has said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown should read his new book How To Be Smart With Your Money.
Bannatyne told thelondonpaper: “I think he must read this book and I’m certainly going to send him a copy. I’m actually going to see him in a couple of weeks’ time so I’ll take him a signed copy!
“Perhaps I’ll write another for him; How To Be Smart With Our Money!”
He added: “There’s a couple of ideas I’m gonna run by him, such as how banks treat small businesses.
“I know banks are suffering, but that’s their own fault, and they shouldn’t use that to whip small businesses.”
March 18th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: bbc, Dragons Den
The BBC announced today the identities of two new Dragons who will preside over an online-only version of BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den.
Shaf Rasul and Julie Meyer, two highly successful entrepreneurs, will give Britain’s budding business men and woman the chance to secure up to £50,000 of investment for their ideas.
Anyone with a must-have product or top-notch business idea can visit bbc.co.uk/dragonsden to apply. The most innovative and entertaining ideas will be selected by the BBC to be pitched to the online Dragons. These encounters, capturing all the drama and tension that are the hallmark of the show, will be available exclusively online from Monday 30 March and will be updated weekly.
Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones has been awarded a CBE for services to business, entrepreneurship and young people in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
Peter became a household name while appearing on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den and in 2006, he worked with the X Factor’s Simon Cowell to create a new reality TV format show, American Inventor. He then signed a contract with ITV to produce and star in the business show, Tycoon. Read more & comment »
October 28th, 2008 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Dragons Den
Rachel Lowe has proved that the Dragons’ Den millionaires don’t always get it right after she made more than £1 million from the game they rejected.
Rachel tried to sell her game ‘Destination’ to the Dragons back in 2005 but they laughed her out of the den and left her in tears. Rachel didn’t take this defeat lying down though, she instead approached Harrods who backed her and helped her game to become their biggest seller that Christmas.
Rachel now has a £1 million per year turnover after creating 21 versions of the game and is set to have a bestseller again this Christmas as she launches her new version, ‘Destination Hogwarts’.
August 12th, 2008 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Dragons Den
Could it be true? Could arrogant Peter Jones and cocky Duncan Bannatyne actually be burying the hatchet?
The pair are currently starring together in their fifth series of business reality TV show, Dragons’ Den and Jones admitted that it has taken them this long to warm to one another.
The dad-of-five told Closer: “It’s taken five series, but I’m finally warming to him. I think as he becomes an OAP, he’s mellowing slightly.
“Before this series I couldn’t stand him. But now we’ve been out for dinner together. It’s quite a turnaround. He’s getting old, and age is good for him.”