18 January 2024 , 20:00
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Some Dragons' Den viewers have already vowed not to watch tonight after a preview showing Gary Neville alongside the other entrepreneurs didn't go down well.
The former England star-turned-TV pundit and fashion guru Emma Grede will join Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett to cast their eyes over hopefuls’ business plans. But after the BBC dropped a first look at the episode, many will take some convincing to tune in.
It will air tonight and it will including a pitch from one businessman looking for investment in his football memorabilia idea. The Dragons' Den Twitter account shared preview clips but some say they'll be watching something else with the divisive ex-Manchester United star as ever splitting opinion.
The account stated: "It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for - Gary Neville joins the Den as a Guest Dragon - you do not want to miss it!" But some aren't sold and responded to the video preview: "Another programme ruined. I’m running out of things to watch on terrestrial television."
Gary Neville makes his Dragons' Den bow later tonight"It’s not, I won’t be watching," said another while someone else chipped in: "Only programme I tend to watch on the bbc, but I will not watch this episode. Also shame we have to buy a license fee to watch tv…" Gary, 48, who has moved into property since retiring from football spoke about his experience of being on the panel.
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He said after going on: “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. 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."
Not everyone is playing ball - and some says they can't face him joining the Dragons (BBC)Gary, known for his on-air spats with former Liverpool rival Jamie Carragher, was surprised by how strong the team spirit was among the Dragons. He said: “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.”
Fans continue to love the show, which successes include Levi Roots with his Reggae Reggae sauce and Neil and Laura Westwood’s Magic Whiteboard rolls. But Trunki children’s suitcases and Brewdog craft beer, now said by Forbes to be worth £2bn, are high-profile missed opportunities over the show’s 20 UK seasons.
*Watch Dragons’ Den on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from tonight at 8pm.