Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne has reportedly offered Janet Devlin a record deal!

The Scottish millionaire is said to have been bowled over by the Northern Irish teenager on The X Factor and fell in love with her voice immediately. When she was eliminated from the ITV show at the weekend, insiders say he immediately decided to offer the talented teen a recording contract.

Ryan Ashmore co owns RKA records with the gym chain owner and revealed that he and Duncan offered to sign Janet just an hour after she left the show….that explains why she was so excited on The Xtra Factor!

He added:

“With Janet’s amazing talent and great image I just had to put my offer out there. She is destined for success and I’m sure RKA and Janet can have a great relationship and achieve great things together”

Janet won’t be able to officially sign with the label for a few months, as she is still tied into a restrictive contract with Simon Cowell’s SYCO, which will prevent her joining another company or releasing any news music for the time being.

Devlin will no doubt have a few stipulations to make before she commits anyway, as she explained recently that her ‘artistry’ and expression is very important. She admitted that she hated feeling like a karaoke singer each weekend and now wants to concentrate on making her own music.

We just can’t believe she got offered a record deal on the same night she got the X Factor boot. Go Janet!

View the original post Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne offers Janet Devlin a record deal with RKA records on Unreality TV

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

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

Dragon’s Den, The Apprentice, Britain’s Got Talent, Masterchef, Take me out, TOWIE, Jamie Oliver’s ‘Dream School’ , X-Factor, Come Dine With me, Coach Trip, Dancing on Ice and more battle it out at this year’s prestigious 1st annual National Reality TV Awards.
National Reality TV Awards is set to become one of the biggest worldwide Television awards shows specifically targeting the different sub-genres that make up Reality TV. NRTA (National Reality TV Awards) will be launched in London, UK on the 6th of July 2011 whilst the official US version of the awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on the 1st of December 2011.

The big hitters this year include; Channel 4’s ‘The People’s Supermarket’ nominated for a record four categories including; Best Business Show, Most Inspiring TV Show, Best Docusoap and Best Social Experiment. Jamie Oliver’s Dream School securing three nominations for Best Social Experiment Show, Best Non-Competition reality TV show and Most Inspiring Show. The tables are turned on the talent judges with the public deciding who their favourite judges are from a list of talent judge nominees including; Alesha Dixon, Karen Brady, Amanda Holden, Cheryl Cole, Greg Wallace, Bruno Tonioli, Elle MacPherson and Louis Walsh as they battle it out for the Best Reality TV Judge category. Britain’s Got Talent, the Only Way is Essex, Come Dine Wine Me, and Dancing on Ice are all nominated for the Best entertainment show category.

The spectacular 1st National Reality Television Awards promises to be the biggest and best yet, as the stars of the small screen gather to celebrate the success of shows that have kept millions of viewers throughout the nation glued to their TV box sets.
Full list of nominees for National Reality TV Awards 2011 include;

Best Business Show
Beat the Boss (CBBC)
Dragon’s Den (Channel 4)
The Apprentice (BBC 1)
The People’s Supermarket (Channel 4)
The Business Inspector (Five)

Best Entertainment Show
The Only Way is Essex (ITV2)
Kerry Katona (Coming Clean) (ITV2)
Come Dine With Me (Channel 4)
Three in the Bed (Channel 4)
I’m A Celebrity Get me Out of Here (ITV) Britain’s Got Talent (ITV) Take Me Out (ITV 2) My Super Sweet 16 (MTV) Dancing on Ice (ITV)

Best International Reality TV Show
Keeping up with the Kardashians
America’s Got Talent
Jersey Shore (MTV)
The Hills (MTV)
America’s Next Dance Crew

Most Inspiring TV Show
The Model Agency
The Peoples Supermarket
The Wright Stuff (Five)
Jamie Oliver’s Dream School (Channel 4)
Katie ‘My Beautiful friends’ (Channel 4)
Seven Days (Channel 4)
The Hospital (Channel 4)
Coppers (Channel 4)

Reality personality of the Year
Mark Wright (The Only Way is Esssex)
Levi Roots (Reggae Reggae Sauce/Dragons Den)
Amy Childs (The Only Way is Essex)
Katie Price (Katie)
Louie Spence ( Pinnapple Dance studios)
Joey Essex ( The Only Way is Essex)
Kerry Katona ( Coming Clean)

Celebrity personality of the Year
Jamie Oliver
Duncan Bannantyne
Peter Andre
Cheryl Cole
Sir Alan Sugar
Peter Jones
Paddy McGuiness
Amanda Holden
Best Docusoap
The People’s Supermarket (Channel 4)
Lilly Allen ‘Riches to Rags’ (Channel 4)
Danii Minogue ‘Style Queen’ (ITV2)
Jedward ‘Let Loose’ (ITV 2)
Katie (Sky Living)
Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
Natalie Cassidy ‘Becoming a mum’ (Channel 4)
Jean Claude Vandamme ‘Behind closed doors’ (ITV4)

Best Reality TV Judge
Alesha Dixon (Strictly come dancing)
Karen Brady (Apprentice)
Amanda Holden (Britain’s Got Talent)
Cheryl Cole (XFactor UK)
Greg Wallace (Masterchef)
Bruno Tonioli (Strictly come dancing)
Elle MacPherson (Britain’s Next Top Model)
Louis Walsh (XFactor)

Best TV Presenter
Christine Bleakley (Daybreak)
Evan Davis (Dragon’s Den)
Mark Dolan (Balls of Steel)
Dermot o’ Leary (X-Factor)
Konnie Huq (XFactor)
Tess Daly (Strictly come dancing)
Paddy McGuiness (Take me Out)

Best Reality competition show
XFactor (ITV1)
The Apprentice (BBC1)
Come Dine With Me (Channel 4)
Three in the Bed (Channel 4)
Britain’s Next Top Model (Living)
Britain’s Got Talent (ITV)
Strictly come dancing (BBC)
Coach Trip (Channel 4)
Masterchef (BBC 1)

Best Non-Competition Reality show
Kerry Katona (Coming Clean) (ITV2)
The Only Way is Essex (ITV 2)
Seven Days (Channel 4)
Katie (Sky Living)
16 & Pregnant (Sky Living)
Natalie Cassidy ‘Becoming a mum’ (Channel 4)
Jamie Oliver’s Dream School (Channel 4)

Best Talk Show
Jeremy Kyle (ITV)
The Wright Stuff (Five)
OMG ! with Peaches Geldof (ITV2)
Loose Women (ITV)
The One Show (BBC)
Alan Carr’s Chatty Man
Vanessa (Five)
The Graham Norton Show (BBC One)

Best Game show
The Weakest Link
Deal or No Deal
The Million Pound drop
QI
Countdown

Best Self Improvement/MakeOver Show
Gok Wan ‘How to Look Good Naked’
Snog, Marry , Avoid
SuperNanny
60 minute makeover
The Secret Millionaire

Best Social Experiment show
Jamie Oliver’s ‘Dream School’
The People’s Supermarket
Wife Swap
The Family
Seven Days
Ladette to Lady

How to Vote;
Simply log onto; www.realitytvawards.co.uk , Register & Vote (Voting closes on the 1st of July 2011). The NRTA official website also offers you news, interviews and the first interactive awards live video chat to allow viewers worldwide to log on and chat live in real time with other reality tv fans worldwide about their favourite TV shows and more.

View the original post Dragon’s Den, The Apprentice, Britain’s Got Talent, Masterchef, TOWIE, X-Factor, Come Dine With me battle it out for Reality TV Awards 2011 on Unreality TV

James Caan has confirmed that he will not be returning to Dragons’ Den.

The British Pakistani entrepreneur joined the panel in 2007 and has been characterized in the media as both the calmest and most sincere of all the Dragons. However he has now decided that he no longer has the time to devote to the BBC show, because of all his other work commitments.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time in the Dragons’ Den, however my work and philanthropic interests mean I can’t devote the time required to the Den any longer,” he said in a statement. “Dragons’ Den has been an integral and exciting part of my professional life and I thank the show profusely for letting me be a part of it for so long. Unfortunately, I’m out!”

Dominic Bird, the show’s executive editor added: “James has been a fearsome dragon over the last two years and, although we’ll be sorry to see him leave the den, we appreciate he is very busy with his new endeavours. We wish him luck and hope to work with him again soon on new projects.”

Caan and fellow Dragon Duncan Bannatyne have been embroiled in a long running feud which may have contributed to his decision. Last year Duncan admitted that he would like to see James replaced by Apprentice star Karren Brady.

View the original post Dragons’ Den: James Caan quits on Unreality TV