05 January 2024 , 14:49
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Dragons’ Den viewers claim one of the show’s latest pitches was pinched from an episode of Absolutely Fabulous.
Starring Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders as magazine editor Patsy and fashion PR Edina, Absolutely Fabulous is one of the BBC’s most famous ever sitcoms and ran on and off for decades. In a 1994 episode of the show, Jennifer’s character Edina first referenced Pop Specs, a brand of glasses that allowed wearers to switch the lenses in and out.
Fast forward to 2024 when aired in which entrepreneurs Lina and Dan appeared on the popular show to plug their own glasses brand, also called Pop Specs. Pop Specs’ selling point is that the brand offers affordable but stylish prescription glasses that can be fitted in just twenty minutes flat.
Dragons’ Den viewers claim one of the show’s latest pitches was pinched from an episode of Absolutely Fabulous (BBC)But after Lina and Dan’s Dragons’ Den appearance, viewers started taking to X, formerly Twitter, to point out that a similar brand idea had first appeared on Ab Fab decades prior, with one person even suggesting the show take legal action. The social media user tweeted: “Can't believe that two entrepreneurs have had the audacity to appear on #Dragonsden trying to sell Pop Specs! Surely @Dawn_French and @JenSaundersFans could sue, as they invented them first.” Another person tweeted a scene from Scarface in which Tony Montana laughed on the phone while counting money and, also referencing legal action, quipped: “Ab Fab writers and their lawyers seeing pop specs on #dragonsden.”
Someone else chimed in: “I do hope Edina is getting her cut for them stealing her idea! #PopSpecs #DragonsDen @dragonjones #AbsolutelyFabulous @BBCOne,” while other comments included, “It was Edina’s idea first! @BBCDragonsDen” and “Darling...sweetie… Pop Specs are Ab Fab copyright #dragonsden.”
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The Dragons tested out Pop Specs' offering (BBC)Lina told Mirror Online in a statement (edited for clarity): "We'd never watched the show before starting the company. In regards to our company name, we had two other options, but because we provide quick, trendy, poppy glasses, we decided to go with Pop Specs. I only came to the UK four years ago [and] the show was from the 90s. I wasn’t even born yet when the show was released). We've done our due diligence prior to registering the company and applying for IP and there were no objections. So, it was just a pure coincidence. Our company and the show are two different concept, and one has nothing to do with the other."
The new series of Dragons’ Den sees footballer Gary Neville appear as a judge for the first time alongside fellow Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, however the football star was nowhere to be seen during this series’ premiere and won’t make his official debut until January 18, 2024.
about his exciting new gig, Gary recently shared: “The thing that really stuck out for me was the length of the pitches. It really was a test of endurance – the concentration span needed was something I’d not thought about before. I think it’s becoming more and more normal particularly for the younger generation to want to change career paths and I think having that agility and flexibility in life is important. But also being bold and brave enough to do it. Being an entrepreneur by the very nature of it means that you are courageous, and you take risks.”
Gary also opened up about working with the Dragons and how they all bonded on the first day. "After filming on the first night, we all went out for something to eat together. This was something that the Dragons did after every filming day, they’d eat at the same restaurant at the same table and they’d built this incredible team spirit together. I knew they would all get on as people do when they’re doing television shows, but I didn’t recognise that it would be as close a team as it was," he said.
Mirror Online has reached out to the BBC for comment.