The new Dragons who will replace Piers Linney, Kelly Hoppen and Duncan Bannatyne have been unveiled by the BBC.
Moonpig.com founder Nick Jenkins, fashion brand creator Touker Suleyman and restaurant and bar owner Sarah Willingham will join Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden in the Den for the 13th series of the show.
Dragons’ Den sees aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their start-up projects in a bid to win investment from the wealthy business owners.
Nick Jenkins (BBC)
Nick, founder of the online gift card and novelty gift manufacturer, said: “I have always preferred the start-up stage to running a larger mature business. It is a more exhilarating journey and requires instinctive fast decision-making. I am very excited about joining Dragons’ Den and using my experience to back some great new businesses and help them through the turbulent first years.”
Touker is best known as the founder of menswear brand, Hawes & Curtis and for relaunching ’90s womenswear label Ghost.
Touker Suleyman (BBC)
He said: “It is a privilege to join the panel of Dragons’ Den and support the next generation of UK entrepreneurs. Dreams and big ideas are plentiful, but few people have the courage to realise their ambitions. I want to support those people with the guts to pursue their dreams and provide the financial backing, opportunities and support that will ease their path to success.”
Sarah created restaurant chain The Bombay Bicycle Club and co-founded The London Cocktail Club.
Sarah Willingham (BBC)
She said: “I’m so excited about joining this year’s great team of Dragons. I can’t wait to meet some more brilliant people with brilliant businesses to invest in and support. I’ve been at the coal face with every business I’ve ever launched and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and do what it takes to help small businesses grow.”
At the end of the last series of the BBC Two show, interior decorator Kelly, internet entrepreneur Piers and health club chain owner Duncan all announced they were stepping down. Duncan has been on the show since it began in 2005, while Kelly and Piers joined in 2013.
Duncan Bannatyne, Kelly Hoppen, Deborah Meaden, Piers Linney and Peter Jones in the Den on series 12 (BBC)
Electronic goods company owner Peter Jones has been a Dragon since the series began in 2005 and leisure industry entrepreneur Deborah joined a year later.
Filming begins for the new series of Dragons’ Den next week and the show will return to BBC Two later in the year.
