Add
Private Notes
Featuring the team behind Ladderbox, sculptor Guy Portelli and olive oil man Michael North.
On the second stage of its tour of the UK, Dragons' Den: On Tour heads back on the road proving that, even in tough times, entrepreneurialism is fighting fit in our cities, towns and villages.
The tour heads into London for episode two where a visit to one of the most successful entrepreneurs not to get investment - Shaun Pulfrey and his Tangle Teezer brush. But will Duncan Bannatyne agree with Shaun that the Dragons got it wrong?
On the third leg of its tour around the UK, Dragons' Den: On Tour heads north.
Peter Jones drops in on Eddie Middleton, who managed to anger the Dragons before getting - and turning down - an offer of investment to produce his eco-friendly patio heaters.
Duncan Bannatyne rolls his sleeves up and goes window cleaning with his new investment UK Commercial Cleaning, whilst another Dragon spurned, Deborah Meaden, visits Naomi Timperley from Baby Loves Disco.
James Caan goes to see Martin Wadsworth, who couldn't convince the Dragons of the market for his slimline heated skirting boards, and Theo Paphitis catches up with young entrepreneur Vernon Kerswell from Extreme Fliers Toys, to see if he followed his fatherly advice - to go back to university and finish his degree.
The Dragons are off to the Midlands, Oxfordshire, North Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex to discover whether business is booming, or if the recession has dampened the spirit of entrepreneurialism in our cities, towns and villages.
The Dragons catch up with the band Hamfatter to find out how the Den's first rock investment is doing. Duncan pops in to sign the deal with one of the stars of the 2009 series, Sharon Wright, who came to the Den with an invention for putting cables through walls.
Deborah checks up on a very flamboyant interior furnishings company, while James pays a visit to one of his investments whose business plan had to be totally revamped because of the economic climate.
Finally, Theo meets up again with one of the Den's most successful entrepreneurs to find out why her Road Refresher dog bowl was apparently good enough for the President of the United States, but not for the Dragons!
Having travelled across the North, South and East of the country, the destination for the fifth and final stage of the Dragons' Den tour is the West.
James Caan visits Clive Billing, the man who caused astonishment in the Den by spurning an offer from three Dragons. Deborah Meaden enjoys the opportunity to see Buggyboot hit the shelves, while Theo Paphitis welcomes a very special new addition to the Magic Whiteboard family.
The realities of business hit home as Peter Jones visits aspiring motorsport enterprise British Racing, and Duncan Bannatyne catches up with Rapstrap, one of his investments.
An entertaining and illuminating journey through the 18 other countries that now have their own versions of the hit programme. Featuring some of the most bizarre inventions and cringeworthy pitches, the angriest exchanges, as well as the joyous moments when the plucky entrepreneur actually gets investment.
Sport Relief special. As you'd expect, there are a few changes to watch out for, including having Sport Relief celebrities walk up those famous stairs to accompany the cash-hungry entrepreneurs in their bid for investment.
To kick off the episode, funnyman Patrick Kielty lends his support to an improbable-sounding invention - the Sideways bike. Two sisters from Southampton hope the Dragons will see the potential in their bottom-toning prototype, ably demonstrated by Ruby Wax. Olympic champion James Cracknell lends a hand to young businessman Liam O'Reilly and his dancing troupe; and Greg Rusedski leaves his tennis racket behind to help two Irish entrepreneurs pitch their portable sports stadium aimed at kids. Jason Manford and Iwan Thomas both have to stand in front of the Dragons and respectively pitch a spectacle-stabilising attachment for sports caps, and a sat nav for skiers.
Before entering the Den, the Dragons and entrepreneurs have all agreed that some of the profits from any investment will go towards Sport Relief. But when it comes down to business, the same rules apply; it's the Dragons' own money and only the very best ideas will succeed. In this tough arena, facing some of the best minds in the business, will any of these hopeful entrepreneurs convince the fearsome financiers that they should walk away with their cash?
Plus, the Dragons visit the Kibera slum in Kenya to find out how the money raised by Sport Relief is helping those in need.
The series following each Dragon as they return to their day jobs starts with Peter Jones.
Christmas is big business. Across the UK, thousands of entrepreneurs are dreaming up new products and innovative ideas to try and cash in on the annual big spend - over £36bn in 2011. And if there is money to be made, the Dragons are never far away. Now, for the first time, the Den opens its doors purely for commerce at Christmas. Budding businessmen and -women pitch their festive companies in the hope of securing a much-needed cash injection from the five multimillionaires. An entrepreneur from Surrey, also known as Mrs Christmas, turns the Den into a grotto, while two friends from south London encourage the Dragons to try some traditional game play. Plus, a former dinner lady from Huddersfield offers her take on Christmas cake, complete with brussels sprouts. But it would not be the Den if there were not a few business curveballs, so also descending the stairs are a Secret Santa, who demonstrates his hope for the Christmas No 1, two Liverpudlians who host a Dragon party, and a mother and son who offer up festive knitwear for all the family... not forgetting a range for pet dogs, and a 'bah humbug' option for any grumpy knitwear fans out there. This seasonal treat also includes a chance to catch up with some of the entrepreneurs featured in the Den. Will they be this year's festive hit? Or will this most competitive time of trading swallow them up and have them for Christmas dinner?
In this catch-up special, Angela Scanlon discovers what happened next for some of the most memorable entrepreneurs to have survived the Den.
Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Tej Lalvani and new Dragon Sara Davies take us beyond the Den and into the brave new business world of their most promising investments. What is it like to strike a Dragon deal worth millions of pounds? How has the Den lead to a murder trial for one businessman? And Angela settles on the sofa to relive tough, tense and funny moments from recent series with the entrepreneurs who will never forget them.
