Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has reportedly been scolded by the BBC for breaking the broadcaster’s strict sponsorship rules by wearing a certain jewellery brand on the hit business show.
The 29-year-old surreptitiously plugged the jewellers Craftd on an instalment of the show, which is prohibited by the Beeb, and took to his social media to showcase the range of items, including necklaces.
The clip of the entrepreneur has now reportedly been removed and he has been barred from wearing items from the jeweller on future Dragons’ Den episodes if his contract is renewed.
The BBC told The Sun : “We have clear guidelines around talent’s commercial activity while working with us. Steven has been reminded of the guidelines.”
Meanwhile, the Diary Of A CEO podcaster insisted: “This was a genuine oversight on my part. The posts have now been taken down. I will ensure I am clear about what activity is possible.”
He said that after wearing the jewellery, he approached Craftd and the company then agreed to sponsor his hit podcast.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood found himself in similar hot water when he used his Strictly catchphrase “Fab-u-lous” in an advert.
This comes after the latest Dragon on the hit BBC business show has said he applied to pitch on the show a decade ago, but never received a response.
The 29-year-old, who is the youngest investor to ever appear on the programme, said he used to watch the long-running show as a 12-year-old growing up in Plymouth.
During an appearance on ITV ’s Loose Women he told the panellists he used to pause the TV programme to “pretend” he was the sixth Dragon on the probing panel.
He said: “I actually applied to pitch on Dragons' Den when I was 18.
“I never heard back, but someone found it in my diary when it was uploaded online and I was announced as a Dragon ten years to the week after I applied. So it feels like a really crazy experience.”
Steven added: “I don’t know if you believe in manifestation at all, but I actually sent a message to all of my team and said, I want to do Dragons' Den and then 60 days after I got the email from the BBC inviting me to have the meeting.”
The Botswana-born entrepreneur started his own company from his bedroom, a marketing agency called Social Chain, and was a millionaire by age 23.
