Deals struck on Dragons' Den often fall through after filming, according to reports. The BBC show, which has run since 2005, sees entrepreneurs pitch to investors including Peter Jones and Sara Davies. However, not all handshake agreements lead to actual investment.
Peter Jones, the only Dragon to appear in every series, acknowledged that some deals collapse. He said: 'There are occasions where you get things wrong.' He cited Tangle Teezer, a hairbrush he declined to invest in, which later made its inventor over £100m.
Sara Davies, who joined the show in 2019, described the intense filming schedule. 'We aim to be on set for 10am, and there aren't many days where we finish before 9pm,' she said. Pitches can last up to two hours, and Dragons have no prior knowledge of the businesses.
The show's format originated in Japan in 2001 as Tigers of Money. The UK version has seen successes like Reggae Reggae Sauce, but also misses. In 2007, Dragons dismissed Hungry House, a takeaway website, before the rise of Just Eat and Deliveroo.
Jones defended some missed opportunities, such as Trunki suitcases. 'That wasn't a miss at all,' he said. 'He overvalued the business.' The entrepreneur's valuation made the deal unviable, even years later.
