Dragons’ Den is back for another run of tense product pitches and fiery negotiations.
Now in its twenty-second series, the BBC show is a ratings hit and just as watchable as ever, with a formula that delivers interesting products and plenty of drama from the entrepreneurs who are waiting to invest in those that take their fancy.
Here’s this year’s line-up of Dragons, and guest Dragons, who’ll be putting a whole host of entrepreneurs through their paces in the coming weeks.
Dragons
Deborah Meaden
You probably know Deborah Meaden – she’s been a Dragon for years now. The TV personality, 65, previously bought out Weststar Holidays, and sold it for £33 million in 2005 – and has invested in countless businesses on Dragons’ Den over the years.
Peter Jones
The longest-running Dragon on the show, Peter Jones has been on the panel since the very beginning. The former Red Letter Days co-owner, 58, has an interest in business and mobile phones, and he founded Phones International Group in 1998. Peter also has an investment group named PJI.
Touker Suleyman
Cyprus-born Londoner Touker Suleyman, 71, joined Dragons’ Den in 2015, with a background in fashion. His expertise lies in the supply chain as the owner of the Low Profile Group, which supplies the likes of Marks & Spencer.
Sara Davies
Sara Davies, from County Durham, joined the Den in 2019 at only 35 years old as the youngest-ever Dragon, before Steven Bartlett joined the show. Davies’ career kicked off after she founded Crafter's Companion, a retail business specialising in crafting, from her bedroom at university in 2005.
Steven Bartlett
Steven Bartlett, 32, joined the show in 2021, becoming the youngest Dragon at the time. The founder of the hit The Diary of a CEO podcast and author, Bartlett is known for his innovative approach to social media marketing. He also launched his own private equity fund, Flight Fund.
Guest Dragons
Joe Wicks
Joe Wicks MBE, is a pioneer of the health industry whose popularity heightened amid the Covid pandemic when he gained global recognition and acclaim. He became the “PE teacher of the nation”.
But it was a successful boot camp and personal training business where Wicks’ career launched. He reportedly felt fulfilled from helping clients reach their fitness goals, inspiring his career journey to flourish on social media. Wicks has sold more than 4 million books.
“My own journey has shown me that with the right mindset and a lot of hard work, anything is possible,” he told the BBC. “I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences and hopefully helping some amazing businesses reach their full potential.”
Trinny Woodall
Trinny Woodall is the founder and CEO of a global, digital-first beauty brand, Trinny London, which she has scaled and expanded into a global brand. Woodall has over 20 years of professional experience under her belt, previously working as a fashion columnist and a television makeover artist on the BBC series What Not to Wear.
Woodall said: "Building and growing my beauty brand has been one of the great experiences of my life. I'm delighted to join the next series of Dragons' Den as a Guest Dragon, and look forward to discovering the fantastic ideas and passion that the entrepreneurs will bring to the table. I’m looking forward to sharing insights from my own entrepreneurial journey, and hope I can play a part in helping these businesses achieve their goals.”
Emma Grede
A British businesswoman, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Emma Grede was named one of America’s Richest Self-Made Women Under 40 (2022) by Forbes. Grede is involved in running several businesses and is the Co-Founder & CEO of Good American, Founding Partner of SKIMS and Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge. She also has a background in featuring on TV series, and frequently appears on Guest Shark on ABC’s “Shark Tank”.
Grede said of the Dragon’s Den series: “This show is all about opening up the world of business and providing a platform for emerging entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have the opportunity. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and support the people and businesses I discovered last time around, and I can't wait to do it all again!"
Dragons’ Den is available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
