Add
Private Notes
The first of five programmes focusing on each of the current dragons, we're on an access all areas journey into the life of Theo Paphitis. We hear what Mrs P and the children, whose inheritance he keeps spending, think of him and get a quick peek into the luxurious lifestyle of a multi-millionaire businessman. While Theo rebuffs the notion that he is the classic rags to riches story, we gain a valuable insight into how his upbringing influenced his business career, get some tips on what it takes to be a future dragon and find out what his rival dragon investors really think of him.
We also discover how some of his most memorable Den investments are getting on, including iTeddy and Ben the Bin, as well as hear from one entrepreneur who accepted an offer from Theo inside the Den, but in the end chose to walk away from the deal.
In this episode, we gain unprecedented access into the life of James Caan. We discover why his daughters cringe at some of his appearances in the Den and get a glimpse into the jet-setting lifestyle of a multimillionaire businessman as he breakfasts with his wife in Cannes, checks up on some business investments in Lahore and gets an update on his latest venture aboard his own luxury superyacht, specially designed to meet James's meticulous demands. As a private equity investor, James is a dragon both inside and outside the den and so as well as getting an insight into how he spends his millions, we also discover some of the secrets about how he made them, why he chose not to go into the family leather business and why he changed his name. Finally we discover what his rival dragon investors really think of him and how difficult it has been being the new boy; also, we catch up with some of his most memorable investments. Will his doggie treadmill earn him another fortune? How has Laban Roomes and his gold-plating business coped with James' attention to detail? And just four months on since shaking hands on the deal, has life changed for glamorous events company, D4M?
Deborah Meaden is next up in this five-part series profiling each of the current dragons. Having made her fortune in the leisure industry, Deborah's back at Butlins, the home of her first venture into entrepreneurialism: a bingo concession. We find out from her husband Paul what he thinks of being married to a dragon; discover what it's like being the only female dragon in an otherwise testosterone-fuelled den; and hear from a former employee about how tough she was to work for. The answer? Very.
We also catch up with some of Deborah's Den investments and discover how the businesses are developing with a dragon on board. One of Deborah's most memorable investments, Sarah Lu and her You Doo Doll, has developed into a full range of products including a You Doo Dog. Deborah's killer heels don't get in the way as she climbs aboard an HGV truck with another den investment, JPM Logistics, as they ferry topiary elephants around London; and we're with recycling company ProWaste in the first few weeks and months of dealing with a dragon outside the Den.
It's Peter Jones' story next in the penultimate programme in this series. He made his money in the telecoms industry, but has gone on to become one the most high-profile businessmen in the UK. With unprecedented access to Peter's business and personal life, we follow him as he visits 10 Downing Street for a meeting with the prime minister; at home with his five children; and discover how he made, and why he lost, his first fortune.
We also catch up with some of Peter's investments, which are among the most memorable in the Den. Both Levi Roots and his Reggae Reggae Sauce have become household names, but how much money are they making? And Hamfatter, the first band to enter the Den, ended up being able to choose between offers from four dragons. Peter won that battle, and we catch up with them all during the band's recent UK tour and discover whether their dragon backer has managed to turn them into a profitable proposition.
In the final programme of the series, it is Duncan Bannatyne's turn to open the door into his multi-millionaire world. Having grown up in the shadow of the shipyards of Clydebank, he makes an emotional visit to the local pub where he used to play dominoes with his father and talks about some of the events that shaped his life. We see a very different side to the tough-talking, plain-speaking dragon as he explains how his unconventional CV is ideal for anyone who wants to be a successful entrepreneur.
We are with Bannatyne's family as they holiday in their luxurious villa in the Cote D'Azure, track his business career to find out where he made his millions, but also discover that his straight talking manner is unsuprisingly not confined to the den.
We also trace some of his most memorable den investments and find out what happened once the deal was done - from the all-singing, all-dancing Razzmatazz franchises, through to the successful logistics company Igloo and the electrical wiring connector that is selling in the millions and has turned its inventor Peter Moule into a mini-dragon in his own right.
The newest star of the most popular series of Dragons' Den is the larger than life, inimitable giant of the haulage industry - Hilary Devey. She brought a unique style and a whole new language into the Den, and this insightful documentary charts her business career and explains how and why she achieved the success that she has.
We see Hilary return to her Bolton roots, where she gained early experience of business success and failure as she lived through her father's bankruptcy and subsequent business rehabilitation running a variety of local pubs and clubs. We visit the aircraft hangar that (along with the rats and a single toilet shared with 50 blokes) housed the first incarnation of Hilary's continually expanding worldwide empire. Hilary also opens up her home and her heart to discuss the stroke that threatened her life and career only two years ago.
Her fellow Dragons give their take on how the new girl fitted in, and we're with Hilary as she takes her first steps with some of her Den investments to see how they're getting on.
