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

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

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

Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne has suggested that show bosses sack millionaire James Caan from the lineup and replace him with Apprentice star Karren Brady.

Bannatyne has insisted that the BBC needs only him and Peter Jones on the show, adding that the rest of the panel including Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis are completely replaceable.

He told The Sun:

“Only me and Peter are integral to the show. Anyone else could go.

“James Caan never gelled with the rest of us and it’s got nothing to do with him starting later in the programme.

“I hope he doesn’t come back. I know they’re wanting to change things and mix it up, and I agree it needs it. A couple of dragons could do with being cut.”

He added: “Karren would be good in the Den. They’ve said they want more women. Deborah gets a lot of criticism. It really doesn’t seem to bother her.”

Duncan and James famously feuded last year after Bannatyne hit out at Pakistan-born Caan for having an ‘unfair’ business advantage because he has non-domiciled tax status. James hit back saying: ‘I do not apologise for my country of origin, Pakistan.’ He added that he would not invest with anyone who had a criminal record – a reference to Bannatyne serving a sentence in military prison when he was a teenager in the Royal Navy.

However, in this latest interview, Duncan claims that he and James are good friends….that explains why he is trying to oust him from the popular TV show! He said:

“We wind each other up and the rows in the Den are real. One argument was so bad they didn’t show it. But we are good friends.”

Duncan also admitted that he doesn’t think Theo Paphitis will be returning to the show.

He said: “He’s launching a big new lingerie company next year and he’s going to be very busy with that so I can’t see him returning, but I hope he does.”

View the original post Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne wants Karren Brady to replace James Caan on Unreality TV

The Sun reports that Duncan intends to “put the down-and-outs through their paces” at his own luxury spa hotel in Hastings, East Sussex.

The show, to be called “Homeless Hotel” will see the homeless competitors go through numerous rounds, with one eventually being awarded a job.

It seems the show’s producers are working closely with homeless charity Shelter prior to the show commencing later this year.

A show source told the paper, “Reality shows have tackled everything under the sun but no one has thought of doing something like this…

“Some people might think the concept is exploitation but it’s no different to any other similar show.

“The only difference here is that the people taking part have nowhere to live.

“We’re not going to be scooping tramps off the street and laughing at them trying to adjust.

“It’s a serious programme where the contestants will all be people who have got themselves into an unfortunate situation and are desperate to work their way out of it.”

The article adds, “Duncan is a big supporter of Shelter and earlier this year took part in a charity run for the organisation.”

What do you think? Is this all a bit My Fair Lady or is it a good idea to give homeless people a shot at their dream job?

View the original post Dragon’s Den Duncan Bannatyne’s new show will feature “tramps”! on Unreality TV

Duncan Bannatyne has admitted that he is very comfortable competing with his Dragons’ Den co-star Peter Jones.

The pair will team up with with Strictly Come Dancing professionals Natalie Lowe and Lilia Kopylova for a Sport Relief special on Friday, March 19 on BBC One.

Bannatyne told Metro: “We’re competing in the Sport Relief dancing competition but we don’t need any encouragement to be competitive.

“There’s rivalry over anything that comes up. We go to a lot of events and compete in things such as charity auctions.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing Sport Relief: Duncan Bannatyne loves competing with Peter Jones on Unreality TV