Dragons' Den (British TV programme)

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Dragons' Den
DragonsDenUK17.png
Dragons Den Series 17
Genre Reality television
Presented by Evan Davis
Dominic Byrne (Online)
Judges
Current Dragons
Past Dragons
Composers
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series21
No. of episodes189 (and 13 specials)
Production
ProducersDarrell Olsen
Samantha Davies
Production locations Old Granada Studios (OGS) (2018–present) [1]
Space Studios Manchester (2015–2017) [2]
dock10 studios (2012–2014)
Pinewood Studios (2011)
The Depository (2005–2010)
Running time1 hour
Production company BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions
Original release
Network BBC Two (2005–2020)
BBC HD (simulcast with BBC Two, 2009–2013)
BBC One (2021–present)
Release4 January 2005 (2005-01-04) –
present

Dragons' Den is a British reality television business programme, presented by Evan Davis and based upon the original Japanese series. The show allows several entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their varying business ideas to a panel of five wealthy investors, the "Dragons" of the show's title, and pitch for financial investment while offering a stake of the company in return.

Contents

The first episode was broadcast on BBC Two on 4 January 2005. After 16 series on the channel, the show has been broadcast on BBC One since 2021. [3] Reruns of previous episodes are still broadcast on BBC Two. The programme is produced by BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions and co-produced with Sony Pictures Television International, the owners of the format that is distributed worldwide. The show was also broadcast by UKTV Channel Dave during the daytime and late nights between 2007 and 2013.

Programme

Format

Applicants can apply to appear on the show through the BBC website, [4] [5] however they may also be directly approached to appear. [6] [7] The final selection is based on the strength of idea, a robust business plan and projected turnover. Selected candidates will have what they believe to be a viable and profitable business idea or already operational business, but lack start-up funding, funds for promotion or expansion. Strict rules apply that they have had no prior contact with the current panel of dragons and will sign a non-disclosure agreement, prohibiting them from publicly discussing the details of their time on the show until it has been broadcast. [7] [8] Between series 1–11, up to 10 pitches were broadcast in each episode, with 4 individual pitches lasting around 10 minutes each, a mixture of successful, rejected and failed, and up to 6 failed pitches being shortened to a combined total of less than 2 minutes appearing between each. From series 12 onwards, 4 main pitches are broadcast lasting between 10 and 20 minutes, with 1-2 failed pitches occasionally featured in-between, lasting around 3–5 minutes. A BBC spokesman has stated that entrepreneurs are advised before filming that their pitch may not be broadcast for ‘editorial reasons,’ and will be informed before the series finale. Entrepreneurs pitches selected for broadcast are contacted between a week to one month before it will be aired, allowing time for them to prepare marketing campaigns. [9]

As part of their opening pitch, advised to keep to a maximum of 3–5 minutes, entrepreneurs must clearly state their name, the name of the business, the amount of money they require and the percentage of equity they would ideally give in exchange. [8] Whilst 30 minutes is alleged to be the maximum allocated length of time per pitch, some are reported to have stretched to 2 hours. [6] [7] [8] If the dragons believe the business plan proposed is not credible, the entrepreneurs are often subject to ridiculing on grounds that widely vary, but particularly upon knowledge of their financial forecasts/profits and over-valuation of the business. [10] Should they cite areas of the business plan they find desirable or enticing, questioning may pause whilst the dragons think of potential routes to investment. [8] From series 18 to series 20, following initial government guidelines on social distancing stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the entrepreneurs and dragons maintained a 2 metre distancing, with samples of their products pre-placed into a box next to each chair before the pitch started, and did not shake hands on agreeing a deal. [11] These guidelines were discontinued from Series 21 onwards.

If the dragons see overall potential in an investment being made, the pitch will conclude with the dragons offering the full amount of money requested and negotiating the amount of equity initially offered. Offers can range from a single dragon to a unit of multiple dragons, dividing the money and equity equally. The entrepreneurs will then have the opportunity to negotiate further, accept or decline investment. Strict rules stipulate they must be offered at least the amount of money they initially requested and can only accept one respective offer. [8] Entrepreneurs usually focus on the benefit of working with dragons who have the broadest range of expertise in their field. [12] Negotiations vary in length of time, particularly when complex conditions are discussed. The entrepreneurs are often pressured to relinquish a larger share of equity than they had first planned, frequently leading to negotiations of 'buy-backs', reducing the dragons’ equity stake once the investment is repaid or targets are met. [13] Occasionally, the dragons offer more money than pitched for in a bid to compete for the investment, or should they believe that the entrepreneur has undervalued the business. [8] If an offer is accepted, they leave the den with verbal assurance that they will soon be in contact. They receive the respective dragon's contact details from the producers off-screen. A dragon who does not wish to invest will declare "I'm out", and the entrepreneur should not expect any further participation from them, though on one occasion in series 4, Peter Jones continued to question an entrepreneur after stating such. Should all dragons declare themselves 'out,' or the entrepreneur rejects a final offer, they will leave the den with no further advice. [8]

Filming concludes with the entrepreneurs briefly interviewed by the producers, reflecting on their pitch. Following the on-screen agreement, the pledge of investment will undergo off-screen due diligence before contracts are signed. The producers of the show do not participate in any negotiations following filming. There is no legal commitment for the dragons to fulfil their offers should the process prove unsatisfactory in any way for either party. [14] [15] [8]

Set and theme

The opening sequence was shot in Ancoats, Manchester, an area transformed by the Industrial Revolution which helped give the city its nickname Cottonopolis. [16] The sequence features shots of Brunswick Mill, Murrays' Mills and McConnel & Kennedy mills – all three are Manchester's most famous cotton mills from the time of the Industrial Revolution, and their use maintains the programme's warehouse theme. [16] The location at which the pitches are filmed has varied over the years. It was originally filmed inside a furniture depository in Stoke Newington. The production was forced to move after the first series owing to building work next door. For the second series shooting took place in a disused warehouse, Wool House. It was the first set created by production designer Laurence Williams, requiring the construction of a section of the window wall and the staircase down to the lower floor. The owner of this warehouse converted it into flats, necessitating a further move to Tanner Street for the next few series. Here another more extensive set was created, including cutting a hole in the floor and again creating the stairs down to the lower floor. Building work necessitated another move, this time to Pinewood Studios, only two weeks before a series was due to be shot; the production designer had to create a complete set on the film stage, including a staircase which descended down into the underfloor tank. After several more series were shot at Pinewood, the production was moved to the BBC's new home in Salford Quays at dock10, MediaCityUK. A brand new set was created for the move, and was screened in the latter part of 2012 for Series 10. [17]

Space Studios Manchester, in Gorton, was also used to film the programme from 2015 to 2017. [2] From 2018 onward the show has been filmed at Old Granada Studios in Manchester. [1] In October 2021, the BBC announced that it was to relocate programme production from Manchester to Glasgow. [18]

Upon arrival for filming, candidates are given a tour of the building and the set before being provided with their own private area to rest and practice before filming commences. [7] [6] Entrepreneurs are entitled to bring an advocate to assist in the pitch should they struggle to answer some of the dragon's questions. [6] [8] Support is provided for entrepreneurs who have a disability and/or underlying health issues. [19] Medical professionals are on-set should anyone become unwell during filming. [20] All participants receive memorabilia from their appearance in the den. When departing the studio, the entrepreneurs will leave separately to prevent spoilers on who was and was not successful. [6] [7]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResult
2005 Banff Rockie Award "Best Unscripted Entertainment Programme"Won
2006 BAFTA "Best Features"Nominated
2007 Royal Television Society Nominated
BAFTA "Best Features"Nominated

The Dragons

Series123456789101112131415161718192021
Dragons Peter
Duncan Touker
Rachel Deborah
Doug Richard James Hilary Piers Nick Tej Steven
Si Theo Kelly Sarah Jenny Sara

Notes

Statistics

Successful deals per dragon per series

Series1234567891011121314151617181920
No. of episodes6686108810101212121516141514141414
Peter Jones 33245666410325554191112
Deborah Meaden 4464354559866726118
Touker Suleyman 256838910
Sara Davies 31079
Steven Bartlett 914
Tej Lalvani 89312
Jenny Campbell 93
Nick Jenkins 26
Sarah Willingham 23
Kelly Hoppen 32
Piers Linney 22
Hilary Devey 44
James Caan 6543
Richard Farleigh 25
Theo Paphitis 44565555620 [note 1]
Duncan Bannatyne 212344263423
Rachel Elnaugh 41
Doug Richard 20
Simon Woodroffe 1

Statistics of successful deals per dragon

As of the end of Season 19

DragonNo. of episodesNo. of total seasonsNo. of total investmentsInvestments per episodeInvestments per season
Average---0.384.30
Peter Jones20719940.454.95
Deborah Meaden19817950.485.58
Touker Suleyman997410.415.86
Sara Davies413200.486.67
Steven Bartlett14190.649.00
Tej Lalvani574310.568.00
Jenny Campbell292120.416.00
Nick Jenkins31280.264.00
Sarah Willingham31250.162.50
Kelly Hoppen24250.212.50
Piers Linney24240.172.00
Hillary Devey22280.364.00
James Caan364180.504.50
Richard Farleigh14270.503.50
Theo Paphitis849470.565.22
Duncan Bannatyne10812360.333.00
Rachel Elnaugh12250.422.50
Doug Richard12220.171.00
Simon Woodroffe6110.171.00

General Statistics

as of 2014 confirm: [14]

  1. ↑ Despite only featuring in 3 episodes, series 18 marked the first time Paphitis had no offers accepted. This marked the second instance in the show's history that a dragon had not made an investment since Doug Richard in 2005.

Pitches

Successful people

Investments received

Levi Roots' Reggae Reggae Sauce, from series 4 episode 1, is widely considered to be the den's flagship investment to date, estimated to be worth £30 million as of 2023, having received £50,000 for 40% equity from Richard Farleigh and Peter Jones. Jones has cited the business to be the best investment he has ever made on the show. [27] [28] [29]

Wonderland (pitched as Visual Talent Ltd), a high-end fashion and culture magazine pitched by Huw Gwyther in series 1 episode 6, has reportedly attracted many celebrity clients since and a net worth of £220 million as of 2022. Gwyther has confirmed Jones still retains a shareholding and has since praised him for his input. [30] [29] [31]

Razzamataz Theatre Schools, a chain of dance, drama and singing schools pitched in series 4 episode 3 by Denise Hutton, is reported to have launched all over the UK and internationally following a £50,000 investment from Duncan Bannatyne, which he returned for £90,000 in 2014. [29] [31]

ElectroExpo (renamed Chocbox), a plastic housing protection for cables pitched in series 5 episode 5 by Peter Moule, is reported to have made £25 million in global sales since first appearing on the show, accepting a £100,000 investment for 36% from Duncan Bannatyne and James Caan. Bannatyne stated in 2013 that the investment was one of the best that he had ever made on the show. [29] [32]

Magic Whiteboard, portable sheets of A1 sticky paper pitched by Neil and Laura Westwood in series 6 episode 5, is reported to have had sales pushed from an annual £45,000 to £1.2 million, following a joint investment made by Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis at £100,000 for 40%. At the time of the Westwoods returning the equity in 2015 for £700,000, it was regarded be the best joint-investment made in the den by Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis. [29] [31] [33]

Worthenshaw's (rebranded as Kirsty's), a frozen dairy-free dessert and alternative to ice cream pitched in series 8 episode 1, is reported to have a net worth of £4 million to date following investment from Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones. Profits were said to have soared following the business now focussing on adult ready meals. Jones has however indicated he was dissatisfied on the return he made from the business. [31] [34] [35]

Skinny Tan, a self-tan brand pitched by Louise Ferguson and Kate Cotton in series 11 episode 1, is reported to be one of the fasting-selling tanning products in the United Kingdom following their pitch in the den. Though the company was sold in 2015, Ferguson, Cotton, dragons Kelly Hoppen and Piers Linney all retain shareholdings as of 2023 and have expanded the business internationally. [29] [31] [36]

Lost My Name (renamed Wonderbly), editions of personalised children's books pitched by Asi Sharabi and David Cadji-Newby in series 12 episode 2, has gone on to sell more than two million books worldwide since the pitch aired in 2012. Piers Linney has since alleged it is the best investment he made during his two seasons on the show. [29] [31] [37]

GripIt, an aid for fixing screws into plasterboard pitched in series 12 episode 5 by Jordan Daykin, has been reported to be worth £14 million since receiving investment from Deborah Meaden at £80,000 for 25%. [31] [38] [39]

Craft Gin Club, a subscription based gin service pitched in series 14 episode 1, is reported to have reached international success following investment from Sarah Willingham at £75,000 for 12.5%. [40] [41]

Rejected investments

Some contestants have gone on to reach the market with their products despite being turned down by the dragons and have met with a range of success.

Destination London , a board game pitched in series 1 episode 4 by Rachel Lowe, went on to reach a mass-market and design several editions for various companies before selling the business in 2010. In 2021, her portfolio was reported to be worth £94 million. [42] [43] [44]

Trunki, a children's ride-on suitcase pitched in series 3 episode 8 by Rob Law, is considered one of the most successful businesses not to accept an offer in the den, having rejected an offer of 50% for £150,000 from Richard Farleigh. Duncan Bannatyne has stated his regret at not investing having seen multiple, particularly at airports, across the world. Profits grew by up to 68% since the pitch in 2006, before it was sold in 2023 for £12 million. [45] [31] [46]

Tangle Teezer, a range of styling hairbrushes pitched in series 5 episode 3 by Shaun Pulfrey, is widely considered to be the most successful business not to receive an offer in the den, reportedly turning over in excess of £30 million a year. Pulfrey sold the majority of his shares in the company for £70 million in 2021. [47] [31] [48]

Hungryhouse, an online takeaway food order and delivery service pitched in series 5 episode 5 by Tony Charles and Shane Lake, declined investment from Duncan Bannatyne and James Caan after filming opting to accept another investor's offer. The company went on to become a household name in the industry and was later bought for an undisclosed sum before merging with competitor Just Eat in 2017. [49] [50]

Hornit, a bicycle horn reaching a volume of 140 decibels pitched in series 12 episode 10 by Tom De Pelet, was reported to have grossed over £3 million in sales following his appearance. Large increases in cycling in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic were claimed to be a key factor in the company's growth. [51]

Marketing Exposure

The pitches often see the entrepreneurs subject to marketing exposure, resulting in a period of mass customer orders and being inundated with interest from various sources. This has occasionally resulted in entrepreneurs announcing difficulty in meeting subsequent supply demands as well as attributing to claims that half of the deals accepted on-screen are not completed after filming. [14] [52] Amelia Gammon, who appeared in series 20 episode 4 accepting Deborah Meaden's 20% investment in her business "Bide Planet", has claimed that despite receiving investment from other sources following negotiations breaking down after filming, she was overwhelmed with orders following the broadcast which accelerated production costs at a faster rate than she had anticipated, subsequently leaving the business unable to dispatch and facing closure. [53] Entrepreneurs whose pitches were not broadcast have occasionally voiced their dismay at the loss of exposure. [54]

Criticism

Sunday Mirror and The Daily Telegraph investigations

Although the BBC has never made any secret of deals that succeeded or fell through, usually offering a follow-up in the final episode of the series, investigations conducted in 2006 and 2015 respectively by the Sunday Mirror and The Daily Telegraph newspapers criticised the show, reporting that many of the deals were unfulfilled after the programmes were shot, alleging half of Dragons' Den investments fall through. [15] [14] The articles claimed that the Dragons either pulled out of the deals over minor technicalities, deliberately offered unfavourable terms to the entrepreneurs in an effort to make them withdraw, or simply broke off all contact with them after the recording. [15] Tiger Mobiles, a company which unsuccessfully applied to appear on the show in 2008, looked in depth at all 143 businesses that won cash on the show between series 1 and 11, alleging just £5.8m of the £13m pledged was ever invested. [55] Dan Forster, who compiled the research for Tiger Mobiles, claimed that the issue was less about the structure of deals and more about the kind of companies that the BBC invites to take part in the show. "The problem lies with the BBC, who, in a bid to keep the viewer count high, have turned the show into a contrived affair that’s more about viewer entertainment than genuine business success. They tend to pick pitchers who are TV-friendly rather than those who are investible with a healthy balance sheet." [56]

The Dragons have defended their record, blaming the failures on the entrepreneurs themselves, claiming they were dishonest in their pitches. Duncan Bannatyne said: "We don't hand over money to people who don't tell the truth." Theo Paphitis concurred: "I kept up my end of the bargain. The show is not about a cash prize, it is about us pledging to invest. But people must tell the truth. Simple." [15] When quizzed about the numbers, Deborah Meaden defended her position informing the Telegraph: "I've had entrepreneurs with extremely unfortunate health issues, patent issues, and two or three silences where I never hear from them again." Meaden also added that "The world explodes for businesses after Dragons’ Den, they get offered better deals in some cases, or think they don't need the Dragons. But what they find when the publicity dies down is that they still need help running the business." [14]

A BBC spokesman responded to the Sunday Mirror in 2006 saying: "After the initial agreement is made on camera, both parties enter a period of due diligence. Sometimes during this period the deals fall through." [57] In 2015, a BBC spokesman commented on Forster's claims, saying: "We are proud of our record of achieving investment offers in the Den and we look into every detail of a business before they are offered a slot on the show. The BBC plays no role in the deal after recording, and we accept that it is typical for some angel investments to fall down at the due diligence stage." [58]

From Series 1 to 11 the Telegraph’s research claimed: [14]

Clarity of investments and treatment of entrepreneurs

The differences between the agreement televised and the deals proposed after filming have caused controversy regarding how entrepreneurs are treated on the show. In 2012, the show faced calls to be cancelled following allegations that many entrepreneurs were being misled to believe their pledge of investment was based on returns from equity when in fact the deals were little different from personal loans. [59] [60]

Founder of The Black Farmer food range Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, although never appearing in the den himself, has heavily criticised the show, telling The Independent "How many deals in the Den have succeeded in the long run? Not many. And a lot of the deals the Dragons make will be based on loans or are equity-based, which is the worst kind of finance you can get for a start-up, there are hundreds of people out there you can get advice from - do not go to a Dragon. I know what it's like to build a successful business: hard graft gets you there, not appearing on a TV show. People would be much better off speaking to their bank manager. "He also added "The Dragons are interested only in a good deal that benefits them, and their justification in being that ruthless is because a lot of the deals go wrong. Like everyone, I thought the show was quite novel when it first came out, but Dragons' Den is a programme that has had its time." [59]

The BBC has occasionally received backlash in regards to the editing of the pitches, alleging the show favours information concerning the entrepreneur's businesses that the dragon's find desirable or cite as inaccurate, whilst removing their admissions of misunderstandings and acceptance of the entrepreneur's strongholds. The BBC received complaints following a pitch from series 2 contestant Stipan Saulich, owner of 'Super Knees,' a strap for roller skates to ease strain on the knees, where his pitch was shortened to the extent that he did not speak and no feedback displayed as to why the dragons decided not to invest, only featuring a short ridiculing from the dragons following his demonstration of the device. [61] [62] Joe Nelson, who featured in series 11 pitching for investment in his business ‘TheyFit,’ accused the BBC of ‘maliciously’ editing his pitch by featuring what he insists were several inaccuracies from the dragons over the product's visage and patent but did not feature the dragons allegedly rescinding these comments following his response. [63] [64] Birmingham entrepreneurs Howard Brown and Alex Black, owners of Real Infra Red Ltd, an underfloor heating business, complained that despite achieving £85,000 investment from Touker Suleyman during filming for series 19, they were not featured in any of the episodes. Brown and Black stated that the BBC informed them prior to the end of the series' broadcast that they would not be featured, however did not explain as to why they favoured pitches featuring the dragons declining investment and ridiculing entrepreneurs. Brown also stated their dismay at the loss of marketing exposure. [9] [65]

Acu Seeds controversy

The third episode of series 21 saw entrepreneur Giselle Boxer, owner of East Healing Ltd, accept an offer from Steven Bartlett at £50,000 at 12.5% after pitching the company's product 'Acu Seeds,' acupuncture ear kits. [66] She received acclaim for being the first entrepreneur in the den to receive six offers, following the addition of a guest dragon, whilst Bartlett soon confirmed that the investment was successful after filming and was actively working with Boxer. [67] During the episode, she stated that the product had helped her manage the effects of myalgic encephalomyelitis, however the BBC soon received numerous complaints that the pitch was edited to allegedly imply the product was a cure for the condition. [68] Charities Sheffield ME and Fibromyalgia and Action for M.E both stated that research as of 2024 proves that there is no known permanent remedy for myalgic encephalomyelitis and despite being open to alternative therapies, they lack scientific research to be classed as certified treatment. [69] [70] Action for M.E posted an open letter co-signed by various support groups on the 22nd January 2024 to the Director General of BBC, asking for support in reviewing the role of the media in promoting unfounded-health claims and their potential harm to society. [71] [72]

The BBC initially defended Boxer's pitch, with a spokesman stating "Dragons’ Den features products from entrepreneurs and is not an endorsement of them. Dragons’ Den shows real businesses pitching to investors to lift the lid on what happens in the business world. This episode features an entrepreneur sharing their own, personal, experience that led to a business creation." [72] However following the backlash from medical professionals, another spokesman confirmed that the episode had been withdrawn from streaming services in order to re-evaluate Boxer's pitch, quoting "We’re taking the concerns raised seriously, so we are reviewing the episode and therefore it’s currently not available on iPlayer." [73] Following the review, the episode was re-added to streaming services with a disclaimer pinned to the episode's title description, as well as a text statement accompanying the beginning of Boxer's pitch, stating "Acu Seeds are not intended as a cure for any medical condition and advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns." [74] [75] The Guardian reported that Boxer had not responded to request for comment. [72]

Talpa Products Ltd allegations

The second episode of series 7 saw entrepreneur Sharon Wright, owner of Talpa Products Ltd, accept a joint offer from James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne at £80,000 for 22.5% after pitching the company's product 'Magnamole.' She has since alleged that Caan and Bannatyne misled her in the den, and that following filming the pledge of £80,000 was in fact a loan and not a purchase of equity. Wright was initially told to meet with series 5 entrepreneurs ElectroExpo, whom Caan and Bannatyne had also invested in together, instead of meeting with the dragons themselves. She was then informed an £80,000 loan would come from them and she would have to pay it back, as opposed to the dragons each giving £40,000 as pledged in the den. [54]

She stated she continued with the process so as not to alarm her existing investors. She was featured in the spin-off series Dragon Den: On Tour where she signed the contract beside Bannatyne, however she later alleged they threatened to withdraw the offer if the contract was not signed and did not have time to get legal representation to review it. Wright said she proceeded as she was then desperate for the money having increased her borrowing to over £26,500 having not seen the full £80,000 pledged, with ElectroExpo only releasing £4,000 to that point. [54] Following the contract being signed she alleged Caan had misled her to believe he would pay for certain services, leading her to receive invoices that she could not afford, and then learnt she would have to pay up to £3,000 for PR services he would then supply. [54] She then appointed a solicitor to review the contract and became aware she had limited access to the £80,000 loan, whilst the dragons had nonetheless purchased the 22.5% equity stake originally agreed upon for just £29. It was also said that at least one of the dragons would become a director, which her solicitor deemed controversial as the equity stake given was generally low. [54] Stating she was now in severe financial difficulty and unable to pay her staff, Wright accused Caan of suggesting she reduce her salary from £50,000 to £12,000 to cope. [54] With Talpa Products now facing financial collapse having subsequently lost part of its supply chain due to the investment's initial lack of clarity, Wright's solicitor terminated the contract and she eventually secured a £100,000 investment from another investor. [54] [76] Despite the product's eventual success, she admitted to suffering a nervous breakdown as a result of the stress endured and was subsequently hospitalised. [54]

Responding to Wright's allegations, Caan stated 'Unfortunately, within a few months of Sharon appearing [on Dragons' Den] she decided that due to the success and positive feedback from the show she would prefer to keep 100% of her company, which Duncan and I fully supported. Occasionally the investment opportunity isn't as it appears on the show. I wish Sharon all the best.' Wright filed a lawsuit against Caan, deeming his response derogatory, but was advised to drop proceedings under legal advice. [59] Although defending the involvement of Electro-Expo, Bannatyne implied that he was disgusted by Caan's alleged £3,000 PR fee charge and stated his regret that he did not invest alone with Wright, insisting he would have solely offered money for equity as stated in the den and not offered a loan. [54]

Dragon departure controversies

Former dragon Simon Woodroffe left the show after participating in the first series citing his distaste for how he felt the entrepreneurs were treated on the show, quoting 'The show became a battle of egos - not a forum for business innovation,' whilst also adding 'The thing to remember was that when you walk up the stairs to pitch, it's not five people necessarily thinking, how am I going to be able to make an investment here? They're also thinking, am I going to be the star of this next little piece? That's not how I was told the show would go down.' [76]

Richard Farleigh's departure from the series was met with controversy following the announcement that British-Pakistani businessman James Caan would be his replacement, leading to suggestions that the BBC had not invited him back in favour of having a new dragon from an ethnic minority. Farleigh announced his disappointment at being dropped from the series stating, "It would be disappointing if that was the reason - rather than anything fundamental - if it was because I was the wrong colour. I don't know why this has happened and I am very disappointed and bemused - I wasn't expecting it because all the feedback I got was very positive. I had even moved back to the UK to focus on commitments for the show. I am gutted that I have not been invited back." [77] A BBC spokeswoman said "Richard will remain very much a part of the Dragons' Den team and will appear in related shows such when we catch up on some of the investments, It is a perfectly normal transition for the series. We do not discuss the reasons for the decision but it is all very amicable." [78]

In 2010, Duncan Bannatyne claimed Pakistani-born Caan had an 'unfair' business advantage due to his non-domiciled tax status. He complained that because Caan does not pay UK tax on his overseas earnings he has more money to invest in his UK ventures. Caan told the London Evening Standard : "I do not apologise for my country of origin, Pakistan." [79] He also said he could not invest with anyone who had a criminal record – a reference to Bannatyne having served a sentence in military prison when he was a teenager in the Royal Navy. [79] Bannatyne replied that Caan was 'playing the race card' and 'personalising the whole thing', and accused him of implying he was racist. [79] Only days before the filming of series 8, Bannatyne pointed out on Twitter that Caan is chairman of the Big Issue , which employs sellers with criminal pasts, and asking how they could now work with their chief. [80] He brought the name of the Big Issue founder into the row by asking: 'Did John Bird know about James Caan's view on ex-prisoners when he gave him the chairman's role?' [80] Caan later faced bad press when he was reported to have offered to buy a baby from a family affected by the 2010 Pakistan flood. [81] Caan subsequently decided to leave the show in January 2011. [82] The BBC announced regret and sorrow over the exit and thanked him for his efforts over his four series in the show. [83] Clive Morgan of The Daily Telegraph criticised his departure, stating his exit was the show's loss and it would not be the same without him. [84]

Special episodes

Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now? is a companion series to the main programme, often broadcast after each respective series, taking a look back at some of the show's success stories – and biggest failures – and finding out what the participants are up to six months on. [85] The series began with a one-off two part special, broadcast on 21 and 28 December 2005, in which presenter Evan Davis reviewed the programme's success stories from series one and two, and looked at the entrepreneurs who received funds to market their ideas. Cameras followed Charles Ejogo, who planned to put umbrella vending machines in London Underground stations, jewellery designer Elizabeth Galton, magazine publisher Huw Gwyther and Rachel Lowe, whose London-based board game caught their eye. Following this, another one-off two part special was broadcast on 28 September – 8 October 2006. Later, two full series of the show were commissioned, with series one, of four episodes, being broadcast between 18 July and 2 August 2007.

Series two, of five episodes, each following a respective Dragon and their investments, was broadcast between 17 September and 24 October 2010. [86] Peter Jones' episode followed him meeting with Kirsty Henshaw, who made an emotional pitch in the Den when she came in with her frozen dessert business, and was determined to get her product on the supermarket shelves as soon as possible, and also meeting up with condiment king Levi Roots. Duncan Bannatyne's episode followed him as he travelled to the south of France to oversee his daughter's wedding, and then went back to work to follow up on some of his investments. Theo Paphitis' episode followed him as he took 90 employees to Greece for a week of team-building exercises, and also visited two companies he invested in to see how they were getting on. Series five, episode nine also featured at a look back at deals from the series, in a similar vein to Where Are They Now?. [87]

Outside the Den

Outside the Den takes a step back from the world of Dragons' Den, to take a personal look at the Dragons themselves, including personal and intimate interviews, a look behind their business credentials, and taking the cameras into their personal lives. Six episodes of the series have been produced – with the first set of five episodes airing between 27 October and 23 November 2008, and following Theo Paphitis, James Caan, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne in their own respective programmes. A further episode, focusing on new Dragon Hilary Devey, was broadcast over three years later on 29 December 2011.

The Best of Dragons' Den

The Best of Dragons' Den focuses on presenter Evan Davis taking a look back at the best and worst pitches from the past series of the show, as well as revealing some unseen pitches that were so bad, they didn't make it to broadcast, and talking candidly with the Dragons involved. Two series of the show were produced, the first accompanying series two, with three episodes being broadcast between 19 January and 2 February 2006, and the second accompanying series six, with three episodes being broadcast between 23 February and 9 March 2009.

Dragons' Den: On Tour

Dragons' Den: On Tour was a series of five episodes which aired between 6 September and 7 October 2009. Each episode follows the Dragons (James Caan, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Theo Paphitis and Duncan Bannatyne) as they travel by bus around the United Kingdom to find out what some of the budding entrepreneurs who had appeared on the show have been up to since, including success stories, awful failures, and some very obvious missed opportunities.

Dragons' Den: Online

Dragons' Den: Online was a special, online version of the show, which follows the same format as the main show, but is presented by Dominic Byrne, and features Shaf Rasul and Julie Meyer as the Dragons. [88] Instead of being set inside a Den, entrepreneurs pitch to the two Dragons via online video pitches, and subsequent interaction through webcam chat. The highest amount of money on offer is £50,000, which the Dragons can only individually invest in any one business. Episodes were posted weekly, for six weeks from 16 September 2009 to 7 October 2009, and viewers could participate by rating business plans before the two Dragons offered their verdict. [89]

Other programmes

A number of one-off specials accompanying the broadcast of the main show have also been produced, often as Christmas specials or charity specials. The following eight programmes have been aired thus far:

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    • No.#TitleOriginal airdateProd. code
    11"Junior Dragons' Den [90] "16 November 2007 (2007-11-16)CIN1
    A special junior edition of the show in which youngsters pitch ideas for money exclusively for Children in Need. Investments on offer include a "Look for Loneliness" pack, with stickers, trophies and branded 'friendship' stops, where £5,000 is required, and a selection of guinea pig and hamster houses, where £1,000 is required.
    22"The Survival Guide"25 December 2007 (2007-12-25)XMAS1
    Evan Davis looks to find ten different ways that entrepreneurs can impress the Dragons. He also talks to a number of celebrity fans of the show, and also talks to some of the entrepreneurs who have pitched their ideas in the den.
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