Duncan Bannatyne has admitted that his business career got off to a dangerous start, when he bought his first ice cream van for £450.

The Dragons’ Den star bought the mobile business in the 80s and went on to expand to a fleet of six, despite being threatened and attacked by rival confectionery sellers.

However it all worked out ok in the end and the man who is now a millionaire, sold the entire fleet when he discovered that his initial investment was worth £28,000.

He said: “I saved up £450 to buy my first ice-cream van, which I worked in myself, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The ice-cream business used to be notoriously tough, with rival companies sometimes muscling in, even attacking you.

“I was threatened a few times, and there were some punches thrown, but I knew I could defend myself and they mostly left me alone. I had six vans by the time I sold up in the Eighties for £28,000.”

And Duncan claims that he is not as ‘nasty’ as people might think, insisting that he cries at sad TV shows like everyone else.

He added to Live magazine: “People say I’m the ‘nasty dragon’, but that’s just business. At home, I cry watching TV programmes like everybody else.”

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne was attacked as he ran his first ice cream van business! on Unreality TV

Dragons’ Den continues with a fresh set of fervent entrepreneurs each hoping to receive cash investment for their company, idea or invention. With multi-millionaire investor Hilary Devey now firmly settled into the line-up, this is a business meeting to test even the most composed and prepared of people.

Tonight, the Den is full of family businesses. Tim and Meena Kalia and their business partner, Tricia Tierney, try to talk the Dragons into investing in their innovative new litter trays for dogs … but, instead, they talk themselves into trouble. Can they find a way to turn their pitch around?

The Den is taken over by a pirate, a street urchin and a hippy as Peter and Michelle Hart, plus five of their seven children, pitch their fancy dress business; but is their dream of investment pure fantasy?

Brothers Jim and Richard George from Malvern believe they’re in a strong position with their already trading, fence preservation company. The business-savvy siblings have a deal in mind – but will the offer they’re holding out for materialise?

Sunday 14 August
8.00-9.00pm BBC TWO

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Jim and Richard George pitch their fence preservation company on Unreality TV

Liz and Alan Colleran were seen on tonight’s Dragons’ Den securing an investment of £80,000 from the show’s newest business expert Hilary Devey.

The couple entered the Den, telling the panel they have been married for 28 years and pitching to them their product, the Raskelf Portable Memory Foam mattress topper.

It started well, as the experts seemed keen on the product, however the pitch started to fall apart when Deborah Meaden asked what their annual wage bill is, and the duo couldn’t break it down.

Peter Jones then asked about their drawings, spending and when Liz couldn’t detail the finances, she tried to excuse herself insisting ‘we are running around like lunatics trying to run this business.’

Duncan Bannatyne criticised the pair for not having their numbers ready, telling the pair ‘I’m out.’

Theo was next to opt out, saying he liked the product but it wasn’t investable for him. Peter Jones also liked the product but said it wouldn’t bring in enough of a profit for his liking.

Deborah was ‘disappointed’ adding:

‘You have got to give me a reason and enough information for me to want to hand you my money. I think it is a great shame but I can’t invest.’

Hilary Devey however was thankfully still interested and though she admitted:

‘I think you do need a lot of mentoring. I think you’ve got a huge market, some of which you’ve not even touched on.’

She added:

‘But I’ve got people that can teach you how to keep your finger on the button and because I do think you have got that sort of vision, I’ll offer you the full amount but I want 26%.’

When the pair tried to talk her down and offered 22% instead, she continued:

‘Because it’s a limited company, anybody owning 75% or more has total control, so I need that protection, therefore I need 26%.’

In the end, Liz and Alan accepted the £80,000 investment and looked elated to have secured the funding.

Check out their product and website here and tell us, would you buy one?

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Liz and Alan Colleran get £80,000 from Hilary Devey for Raskelf caravan Memory Foam mattress topper on Unreality TV

The new series of Dragons’ Den continues with eight more intrepid entrepreneurs pitching to the multi-millionaire investors.

Londoners Krissy Sims and Kerry O’Brien, AKA DJ Trickles and Lady MC, enter the Den with a state-of-the-art turntable extravaganza in the back of their 4×4. The Dragons are often happy to demo a product but it’s the business and how it makes money that remains their ultimate concern.

Husband-and-wife team Liz and Alan Colleran from Dewsbury may be pitching their comfy caravan product, but will their Den experience be quite so luxurious and comfortable?

Elsewhere an Englishman, a Norwegian and a Scot walk into the Den; shades for canines are on offer; there’s a never-before-seen inflatable car-based device; and a Kentish entrepreneur thinks honesty is the best policy when pitching without a formal business plan, but with an offer to help everyone get the perfect looking body for just £20.

Sunday 7 August
9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO and BBC HD

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Liz and Alan Colleran pitch caravan product to Hilary Devey, Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis & Peter Jones on Unreality TV

Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne was forced to delete some angry Twitter messages last night, in which he encouraged his followers to act violently.

After an anonymous user tried to scare the business guru by threatening his daughter, Duncan wrote on the micro blogging website:

“I offer £25,000 reward for the capture of the coward… – Double if his arms are broken first. I am serious btw (by the way).”

However, thinking better of his comments, he later deleted the message and replaced the tweet with one saying:

“£30,000 reward for info leading to his arrest”.

The Twitter user had previously messaged Duncan saying:

“give us £35,000″.

He then directed Bannatyne over to a pastebin message which read:

“Duncan – Dear Dragon.
“We are watching her. She is very attractive. Want photos? Tweet using the hashtag #4money to confirm payment will be made.”

The star has since taken the sensible step of reporting all the threats and providing copies of the tweets and emails to County Durham police.

A police spokesperson told Sky News that they are currently investigating the “credibility of the threats”.

In a statement, the tycoon himself said:

“My family is well protected but I take any threat to them very seriously and will do all I can to ensure the person or people involved are caught.”

A spokesperson for the Durham force said:

“Durham Constabulary can confirm Duncan Bannatyne has reported a number of threatening messages he had received via email and Twitter in which threats were made against a member of his family.

“These appeared to originate from an email address based in Russia.

“We have been liaising since then with Mr Bannatyne and conducting enquiries into the credibility of these threats.”

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne removes violent Twitter messages after daughter is threatened on Unreality TV

It may be a time of austerity in the UK but not so in the Dragons’ Den … business is booming as the self-made multimillionaires return, ready to invest in the best of Britain’s entrepreneurs.

While the rules of the Den remain the same, there is one change in the form of new Dragon Hilary Devey, who joins returning Dragons Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones.

Having scrimped, saved and self-sacrificed to make her fortune in the haulage industry, Hilary has her own views on the products and businesses brought before her, and she’s more than happy to take on her rivals in order to get the best deal.

Georgette Hewitt from Kent finds out exactly how nerve-wracking it can be to pitch to the Dragons. It’s a real battle to compose her nerves but one she must win in order to tempt the multimillionaires to invest in her answer to a common birthday party headache familiar to all parents.

Entrepreneurs often take advantage of the latest Government schemes and incentives when building their business, which is exactly what Chris Hopkins from Yorkshire has done by capitalising on the solar power feed-in tariff. But, when a Dragon knows your industry inside-out, it’s not always what you want…

The first episode also sees the most unusual use you could ever think of for a plastic egg; a circus act that’s sure to go with a bang; and a mind-changing massage service. As ever, Evan Davis is on hand to dissect the events, with further action and reaction available through the BBC Red Button.

Sunday 31 July
9.00-10.00pm BBC TWO and BBC HD

View the original post Dragons’ Den returns: Georgette Hewitt faces Hilary Devey, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden on Unreality TV

Bang Showbiz report that the pair were working at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, with the Helena’s partner Tim Burton when they were interrupted by the Dragons, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden, and Hilary Devey…

And after confessing her love for the programme, Helena – who has two children, Billy, seven, and Nell, three, with Tim – then pitched her idea to the group, enlisting Johnny’s help to do so.

A source said: “Johnny was delighted to meet the Dragons, and Tim and Helena were telling them they are avid fans and watch every week.

“Helena was very excited and started to pitch a ‘Prambrella’, basically a pram that features its own umbrella when it rains…

“Johnny was laughing and joining in.”

However, the Dragons were apparently not interested in Helena’s idea.

The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It wasn’t a great idea, so all the Dragons very politely told her, ‘I’m out’.”

‘Dragons’ Den’ returns to BBC Two on Sunday 31st July.

View the original post Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp have “pitched an idea” to Dragons’ Den on Unreality TV

Duncan Bannatyne has revealed that Hilary Devey will show her tough side during the first episode of the new Dragons’ Den series.

The 54 year old businesswoman – who made her fortune launching Pall-Ex, a palletised freight network – will join the panel of the BBC Two show this summer and Duncan admitted that more than one hopeful entrepreneur will find themselves experiencing her wrath.

He told BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles: “I’m trying to think what happens in the first episode, I just remember watching Hilary – twice she has a go [at people] she really goes for it.

“She doesn’t have a go at the other Dragons, she warms up for a couple of weeks first.”

Duncan, who is a multi millionaire, also admitted that he still loves getting free things because of his TV fame.

He added: “People keep phoning us now and saying, I want you to have a suit free, and you go and they measure you and they give you a suit free. It happens all the time.”

Hilary replaces James Caan on the news series – a fact which we’re sure made Duncan very happy. Speakign about her new rold on the businessbased show, she said:

“At a time when the banks are failing to invest in British small businesses, I am proud to be able to do my part to support the next generation of UK entrepreneurs.

‘Dragon’s Den’ returns for its ninth series on Sunday night at 9pm on BBC 2.

View the original post Duncan Bannatyne says Hilary Devey will be harsh during Dragons’ Den debut! on Unreality TV

And even though her personal wealth is estimated to be in the region of £100million, Hilary’s not ready to retire just yet.

But she’s conquered a string of personal set backs to get to where she is today, including failed marriages and enduring the agony of her son’s heroin addiction.

Speaking to TV Biz, Hilary said of joining Dragons’ Den, “I have always been a fan of the show and I was so pleased when the BBC asked me to be on it.”

She then moved on to discussing her private life and how she’s overcome adversity, saying, “I had no money and went without Christmas presents. I only owned three dresses even though it was important I looked smart every day.

“It was so hard. I never gave up because I always knew I would succeed but I had to sacrifice so much. I didn’t, and I still don’t, have a social life. I am always working.”

Hilary went on to reveal that when she had a tummy tuck operation, she suffered a stroke…

She said, “I wanted a flat stomach, like a lot of women, but I did not rest much afterwards and I had a stroke. I am OK now.”

She then discussed her son Mevlitt’s former £600-a-day heroin habit. Hilary said, “For a long time I had to lock every door behind me.

“He would steal my clothes, food, electrical household items – anything he could sell for money to get a fix.

“It was tough and I just wish I had got there sooner and that someone had told me.

“Time is a healer and he is going back to college. We are really close and I will always be there for him.”

Getting back to her joining Dragons’ Den, Hilary – who’s replaced James Caan on the hit BBC2 show – said, “Viewers will have to decide for themselves, but I hope they think I have brought flair and flamboyance to the Den. Humour too.”

Dragons’ Den returns to BBC2 on Sunday July 31.

You can read the full story in today’s Sun by clicking here.

View the original post Dragons’ Den 2011: Hilary Devey reveals her rags to riches story on Unreality TV

Theo Paphitis has fuelled a row between himself and Duncan Bannatyne, by claiming that he has had more plastic surgery than American TV star Joan Rivers.

The pair work together on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den and speaking to The Sun, he said:

“There is no aftermarket equipment with me, but there is with some of the others. Dugan, (Duncan) has had more work done than Joan Rivers.

“It’s frightening – you should see the stitches sometimes.

He also turned his attention to fellow panellist Peter Jones adding:

“Peter has his own mirror backstage and is the last to finish getting ready. Before we start filming, he looks at the mirror and says, ‘It doesn’t get better than this’.”

Straight talking Duncan has previously admitted to having his eyes and teeth done and has undergone a hair transplant so he doesn’t “look like John Prescott”.

View the original post Dragons’ Den 2011: Theo Paphitis says Duncan Bannatyne has had more plastic surgery than Joan Rivers on Unreality TV