Find out who the latest batch of entrepreneurs will have to face
The show that sees budding entrepreneurs entering the Den to pitch business ideas to the Dragons has unveiled a new line up.
This year’s new additions will join existing multi-millionaire Dragons Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones.
An estimated £15m has been invested by the Dragons since the Den opened its doors a decade ago.
After Duncan Bannatyne, Kelly Hoppen and Piers Linney left the show, three new investors will join BBC Two’s flagship investment show.
Meet the new dragons:
Nick Jenkins
The founder of personalised greeting card website Moonpig.com sold the company for £120 million in 2011.
Nick has been actively investing in start-up businesses since 2008, focusing primarily on technology and online retail. The Russian-speaker who holds an MBA from Cranfield University is heavily involved in charity work and is part of the investment committee of Impact Ventures UK which backs several charities.
Touker Suleyman
The Cyprus-born fashion tycoon has over forty years in the retail industry and is the man behind the luxury Hawkes & Curtis shirt brand. Suleyman – who began his career as an accountant - has invested in a number of UK start-ups a range of start-ups. Dragon’s Den will be Suleyman’s first TV appearance as an investor. The fashion magnate is a mentor for charity Prince’s Trust and acts as ambassador for charities WellChild and the Retail Trust.
Sarah Willingham
Willingham began her career managing high street restaurants such as Pizza Express before buying The Bombay Bicycle Club in 2007. She co-founded the London Cocktail Club in 2007 and launched a money saving website in 2012. Holding three business degrees including an MBA from Cranfield Business School, the restaurateur has made several TV appearances in BBC2’s The Restaurant and SKY TV’s Cooks to Market.
Kim Shillinglaw, Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four said: It’s wonderful to welcome such an impressive line-up of new Dragons. Together they’ll bring an exciting new dynamic to the show as they turn up the heat on the prospective entrepreneurs brave enough to enter the Den.
The thirteenth series begins in July on BBC Two.
